Posted by GC on Monday, February 8, 2010,
In :
Training
There are two avenues of thought towards training and racing. They are distinctly different and both ulitmately end with differing degrees of success.
those who see it as a sacrifice 1. they are fearful 2. feel it is expected or required to be done 3. they use compulsion as their drive 4. they are a sapper 5. they are reactive 6. they have tunnel vision
those who see it as an opportunity 1. they are excited 2. they have passion and desire 3. they have committment to theri objectives 4. they are an ener... Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Wednesday, December 9, 2009,
In :
Training
The purpose of easy and long runs is to stimulate the physiological, biochemical, and molecular adaptations needed for endurance, including the storage of more fuel (glycogen) in your muscles, an increased use of intramuscular fat at the same speed to spare glycogen, an increased number of red blood cells and hemoglobin, a greater capillary network for a more rapid diffusion of oxygen into the muscles, and an increased mitochondrial density and number of aerobic enzymes to enhance your aerobi... Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Friday, October 16, 2009,
In :
Training
Another interesting write up from Andrew Marriot at the World Half Marathon Championships Coaching Seminar. This time the discussion was on Conditioning and Peaking.....
So for the final part of my write up from last friday's endurance seminar and some thoughts from the panel on conditioning and then peaking for races.
George Gandy was one of the pioneers of strength work for middle distance runners. His Lougborough circuits in the 1970s were legendary and Seb Coe gives much credit to George fo...
Posted by GC on Wednesday, October 14, 2009,
In :
Training
A good summary below from Anderw Marriot on the Altitude seminar held at the World Half Marathon Championships....
Part 3 of my write up from the weekend covers Altitude Training. I've stitched together materials from several parts of the evening and felt that it was worth doing this to present a coherent picture of what the panel thought about the use of altitude.
Ian Stewart mentioned at the start that he believed altitude was a critical ingredient in endurance success and to that end would b... Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Thursday, July 9, 2009,
In :
Training
Improving performance and maximising potential is a journey that has many ups and downs along the way where we are challenged. The following link is a tool that gives an opportunity to experience and practice that journey in a game format. Click here to practice.
Posted by GC on Thursday, April 23, 2009,
In :
Training
Having been asked a while back to contribute with a piece for a Guardian article on triathlon sessions I am pleased to see it has gone to print and I am rubbing shoulders with such lofty associates. Click here to read more pearls of wisdom. Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Wednesday, April 22, 2009,
In :
Training
An interesting article following the theme we have been looking at over the past 6months in detail . Consistancy of training that we actually clock over a weekly and monthly basis. The trials and trbulations along with the reality of what we actually have done all wrapped up in this article along with those pitfalls that undermine the process. Click here to read more. Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Thursday, March 19, 2009,
In :
Training
Mo Farah With Great Training Advice: "Thats the bgiggest lesson Ive learned from Beijing you have to listen to your body. It takes time to learn that skill and last year I didnt really have it. Four weeks before the Olympics my body gave me signals to take it easy. But I didnt listen. By the time we got to Macau (the British Teams olympic base) I felt flat and tired". Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Saturday, February 28, 2009,
In :
Training
The evenings are drawing out the calender is turning to March the season is creeping up. Exciting times and busy times. Five weeks an the first athletes will be toeing the line to begin their seasons. Whilst training emphasis may change gradually the simple basic stay the same. Execute them well and consistantly and the rewards will be their greatest. Its not complex simply look at yourself and support yourself the best you can. Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Friday, February 20, 2009,
In :
Training
Mo Farah talks about how he sees the way forward and its all about attitude. I would add not "attitude" but the right attitude. Click here to read more along with the strong links with Arsenal. Well I didnt say he was perfect ! Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Thursday, February 5, 2009,
In :
Training
Mo Farah gives an insight into three months spent training in Ethiopia and Kenya from which he has just returned to run an Indoor 3000m PB of 7.40 Click here Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Saturday, January 31, 2009,
In :
Training
Some interesting stats from the Olympic track events from 800m upwards that appear in an article on the BBC website Click here Shows how and where the damage was done both positively and negatively. Part of the Thursday night Moria Loop sessions are hopefully the early stages of having an impact on this and other areas. Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Friday, January 30, 2009,
In :
Training
Today Friday 30th January a pair of legs have been lost in East Sussex between Battle and Eastbourne. If you pass them please return them to their owner moi. They shouldnt put up much of a fight and definately wont be any fit state to run away.
As for proper training then there have been some good swim sets this week, strong runs (with various levels of navigation). To cap it off I here some are off to see the second best team in England who wear claret and blue play in some backwater somewhere... Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Thursday, January 22, 2009,
In :
Training
Great to see a busy pool this morning especially when a little pace is put into the main set. Some pace changes and shorter reps combined guaranteed to blow away the cobwebs (future option of three sets will have the desired effect). I also see a best of three head to head challenge between the Royalty of kick Princess Sophia and a new emerging talent Sarah L (representing the newly formed Ironman Popular Front under the leadership of Vice Commodore Granny Grice). The three discplines being f... Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Sunday, January 18, 2009,
In :
Training
By chance this week appears to be the mid way point of training for most from when they started at the begining of the winter cycle to when the racing season will commence in Spring. It was a great morning in the Forest with the usual tranquility only broken by the heavy breathing and feet clipping across the ground. It really does possess its own spirit ! Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Tuesday, January 13, 2009,
In :
Training
A thread on a Coach who suggests that "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." Click here to view. I hasten to add that he is no relation and any further similarities are purely coincidental. Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Monday, January 12, 2009,
In :
Training
Many of us become hooked up on the commercial bandwagon of bikes and their componentry over the development of the legs and heart of the athletic animal who stands astride the machine. For the athlete who is that age group competitor or weekend enthusiast then that machine can become a status symbol or an investment in less weight to assist with the frailties of nature. For the athlete who is on the pathway of maximising performance then surely having a groupset that effectively is costing £1... Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Friday, December 19, 2008,
In :
Training
Its been a week soaking up the weather in the Canaries the weather being a good dose of wind and some smatterings of sun. Once again Lanzarote has done us well and offered up a venue to put in a good block of training this side of christmas. With such a wide range of athletes on camp then training loads as usual were vary variable and individually tapered. Plenty of hours in the saddle and pool were the corner stone of the block with a couple of other themes thrown in to work on for improved ... Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Sunday, December 7, 2008,
In :
Training
Today was one of those crisp frosty mornings when the forest is in all its glory and the fire trail presents itself as a giant stairway reaching into the distance. The gladatorial colosseum stands eerily in the valley what more could you wish for (fresh legs and some extra thick gloves ?) With the time of year even the huskie sleighs were out on the firetrail this morning for their daily workout. Its difficult not to be motivated for forest on a morning like that. A few days to go and I can st... Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Tuesday, December 2, 2008,
In :
Training
Face value learning skimming the surface of a session and its facts and figures is not a World Class approach to training. Often the facts and figures are the least you can learn from a session. As a coach the most gain from sessions often comes from looking behind the facts and figures that are presented from the session. Looking behind the scenes so to speak and retrieving valuable information to work with is where a depth in coaching comes from. These valuable nuggets of information can com... Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Thursday, November 27, 2008,
In :
Training
The law of averages suggests that some thursday evenings will not have the heavens opening along the roads of the Moira loop. I guess the fact that the session is key workout at an interesting and testing venue makes the weather less noticable but an evening of staying dry must be on the cards. It brings to an end another week of training that has passed with varying degrees of success. Much in the pool working on efficiency of stroke and application of power through the propulsive phase effe... Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Thursday, November 20, 2008,
In :
Training
Its simple its free and it works. Stretching costs nothing gives handsome returns and can be made as personal as the music on your i pod. Stretching should be an integral part of the athletes training and not something that is occasionally or begrudgingly added. The simplicity of stretching is often its undoing in this age where for something to have value it has to cost or involve others (a group stretch or a mobile at hand in case that life changing/saving call or text comes through). Payi...
Posted by GC on Monday, November 17, 2008,
In :
Training
No events this past week so training focussed across all groups this past week. It was a strong week in the pool for those who were able to hit the sessions with bigger set on Tuiesday. A couple of good key runs on Thursday at Moira loop with the Fartlek and on Sunday on the Forest Tempo. Still some learning to do on the idea of tempo sessions and where the value of the type of session comes from. The importance of this is that a valuable training session becomes an enemy very quickly if appr... Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Monday, November 10, 2008,
In :
Training
Good to see some mature competitiveness over who could run some quality even paced and negative split running at Preston Park. Very refreshing and great use of an event as a training tool focus as opposed to another race. Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Friday, November 7, 2008,
In :
Training
Session on the Moira loop last night (thursday )was a good session for those who made it. The loop is proving very useful and offers up a great terrain for the particular session. All we need now is some weather but I dont think that will happen for a while. Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Tuesday, October 28, 2008,
In :
Training
The removing of drag shorts is turning into an illusionists act. Whilst this darkest art is performed by all at sometime the act itself takes many individual forms. Some of those being.... 1. Quiet removal after warm up in the water on glancing at main set. 2. Visit to bathroom with them removed on return 3. Removal during the set as they are the difference between making the times and oblivion 4. Removal in the final 20secs before starting set so no one else may clock on or have opportunity to a... Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Tuesday, October 28, 2008,
In :
Training
Good job to those who made the main set this morning. Thats one for the bank even in these days of volatile markets it will hold its value. Theres no depreciation in the value of pdfs Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Monday, October 27, 2008,
In :
Training
With the clocks going back at the weekend winter is now on its way. From the overall programme of training it has been the first week of seeing an overview of all the sessions and squads working at the sametime which has been exciting. There are many new challenges ahead with the size of the squad and its development. Already some are successfully turning out over the country with a 1,2,3,4 at the County League in the under 13 girls on Saturday showing some great depth. On the senior group si... Continue reading ...
Posted by GC on Thursday, October 23, 2008,
In :
Training
For a first in the series of a look at addictions and vices the focus is on Facebook. The fountain of all knowledge suggests (thats wikipedia).... "Facebook has met with some controversy over the past few years. It has been blocked intermittently in several countries including Syria and Iran. It has also been banned at many places of work to increase productivity."
For many it appears as a daily must have fix. Where does that time come from ? For you is it merely a communication channel or some... Continue reading ...
