Training Advice?

[GordM]

Hey team, I thought it was time for a quick update;

This last week week has been one of the most fun and exciting weeks I've ever had, with a healthy dose of uncertainty and nerves to go along with it.

I moved out of the house, and into my new dorm (actually, not so 'new')... at UBC in Vancouver. It actually hasn't rained one drop since I arrived, and there was even a forest fire across the street from my residence last night (I think I brought the okanagan with me...) Yay for fire alarms at 3 in the morning... anyways...

I'm on the running team. And while I'm having fun with it, I'm also needing some advice. Training is seven days a week. I've also got 5 courses each semester while I'm starting a BSc, and things are definitely starting to stack up. The training we do on the team is extremely textbook: Everyone, rookies to seniors, does a 1/2/5/2/1 Fartlek, everyone does the same easy run, etc, etc, no one wears a HR monitor, no one is familiar with the FACT model, lactate testing, or heart rate zones. With it being a competitive running team, its easy for the pace to pick up significantly and for an easy run to become a tempo run, etc. It is very 'old school', and when you get an injury, you do water running until it's gone. I thought that varsity running would be different than what it is, but I'm staying optimistic, and enjoying the group training... So what will this mean for me? Well I explained to one of the assistant coaches how I've trained in the past, explained what BPR does as far as testing, identifying limiters, etc. and I was a little surprised by the response "If you want to be on this team, you're going to have to do what we tell you to do"... Not quite the response I was aiming for...

I have no doubt I'm going to improve while on the running team, but how will this impact my long term development, and what should I be doing about it? I'll admit that when the rowing team coach approached me the other day, it was very very very tempting. I feel like I'm running because I 'should be' but it also leaves no time for cycling, cross training, and other fun stuff.

In the mean time, I'm taking Ginny's advice, and listening to my body. I know when to stop, and what the start of an injury feels like. During training sessions, I focus on my cadence, form, and breathing.

I've always known that I was lucky to be apart of BPR, but it is only lately that I've realized that you guys are on the 'cutting edge' of training. I realize that I've got a lifetime ahead of me for training, racing, and being a successful athlete, which was emphasized after reading Ginny's IMC race report. (Way to go Ginny!)

So I need advice: where do I go from here? Is the running team's training going to be worthwhile? And what should I be doing to make sure I'm not about to take two steps backwards...

I'm having an awesome time, and hope I'll be able to make it back for a few training sessions in the Okanagan. Thanks for your help!

[Andrew]

Gord, it is great to hear from you. What an incredible time in life...filled with endless possibilities and opportunities. I am saddened to hear about the general approach to the running program at ubc, but recognize the financial and time limitations facing most coaches that makes innovation and self-reflection difficult.

I think you have a few options, all of them positive and potentially exciting.

First, if you love running with the team, keep running. You can work on your limitations within the framework of a generic program, and the time you spend fixing the cadence issue which has been holding you back will certainly pay off in the future.

Rowing is a fantastic sport with early mornings and a great camaraderie among team mates, and many world class cyclists have had their careers enhanced by a history on a rowing ergometer.

I truly believe that you should follow a passion, and in so doing, you really can not lose. Enjoy the challenges of learning from the coaches you have, from the athletes who train with, and from your peers, but never forget what you have learned in the past...and always remember to keep your long term goals in perspective.

We will look forward to supporting you from a distance and hearing how you progress. Give us a call soon so we can help set you up with some more specific advice once your decisions have been made.

[kiwichris]

Hey Gord - I remember my first few weeks at Uni (yes - I can remember that long ago!!) and what an awesome time of life it is. It sounds like you have a great team of guys and gals to run with and feed off for motivation.
As Andrew points out - you have a base of knowledge that will serve you well over the coming years. Do not lose sight of that in working towards the goals you have set yourself. Your cadence and respiratory focus will continue to let you develop, as long as you ensure you are recovering from your other workouts.
Rowing can provide a great base of endurance for other sports, with long hours of training that some can find tough to balance with school work, social life and any other training. In saying that - trying a new sport can provide the biggest motivation to continue building towards excellence.

Whatever you decide to do - give it 100%, we will always be here to support you in any way that we can.
Chris

[GinnySellars]

Hi Gord
It's fantastic to hear from you, as you begin your university experience.
Boy, your note brings back great memories. I was on the cross-country running team, and also the rowing team at Queen's U.

With regard to the running team, I wonder if you can figure out when you need to 'perform' and show your ability to the coaches, and when you can focus on your own training goals. Hopefully you can tell when the coaches are looking at you and making decisions. At Queen's there were events the 'A' level athletes attended, and other events that 'B' level athletes attended. At times key workouts showed the coaches where you should be racing. You may also want to think about what you plan to achieve over your 4 years of school (unless you are like me, and it takes you 5 ) You may choose to train with your own goals in mind, realizing that you forgo racing at the highest level in your first 1-2 years, with the chance of racing at a higher level in year 3-4.

Only you can decide whether to row or run competitively this year. I based that decision on where we would travel, and how much I enjoyed my team mates. There also happened to be a bakery on the way home from the river where we rowed...they put out fresh muffins for us before the shop actually opened.

Have fun Gord, and keep in touch!