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5 Tips For Motivating Your Gymnast – A Basic Overview
For every gymnast, there is a different motivational need. This is the same in anything, really -- we all have different ways in which we are given confidence in ourselves, no matter what we do. Whether we write or draw, sing or dance, we all need...
At Last - Hands Free Kayaking Using Foot Pedals
Hobie Cat's new Mirage kayak turns the kayaking world on its
head with a system that keeps boaters' hands free. The new
technology is sure to change how people look at kayaking.
Hobie Cat is one of the world's top kayak makers. The...
Football/soccer premiership preview 2005/06
Premiership preview 2005/06 The 2005/06 Premiership season gets underway on August 13th, and if the bookmakers are to be believed, the title will once again be contested by three teams. Two of those – Chelsea and Arsenal – meet on 7th August in...
How to become the million dollar athlete?
This program is designed to increase the speed, vertical, and flexibility of any athlete using these techniques. The skills developed from this program will increase the participants chances of being successful at their particular sport. Sports such...
Sony Open: Will Wie Do It?
From the To the (Previous Seasons') Victors Go the Spoils
department: Jason Gore averaged 80 in four rounds at last week's
season-opening Mercedes Championships and still walked with
$70,000.
Among the discussion points one week into the...
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You Are Disciplined to Train, But Do You Have Training Discipline?
I have the privilege of working with motivated athletes and they all exhibit a high degree of self discipline. Often, one of the hardest things to do is to get them not to train, or to rest and recover. Training can be a slippery slope. You have to balance the right amount of stress with the right amount of rest. Even though you may be a disciplined athlete, training discipline means performing the right volume, intensity, and work out and then allowing your body to recover from it. It also means knowing when not to train. Training too hard can be more detrimental than not enough.
Too many athletes confuse high volume training with high quality training. Just increasing the amount your run or ride will not necessarily get you faster. You have to choose the right work outs to train your weakness and capitalize on your strengths. Training should be a slow steady progression. If you add 10 more intervals to what you accomplished last week, the first 3 may have been beneficial, and the last 7 counter productive. A proper plan will not increase overall volume more than about 8% per week with a maximum of 10%. Try to keep these numbers in mind when you design your plan.
Another common mistake is training too hard in the weeks leading up to a race. Depending on your event you should taper your training for 1-2 weeks or more. In this time overall volume goes down while intensity stays up. The purpose of this is to have you fully rested while maintaining a high level of fitness. Some athletes find it hard to taper their
training and feel they are under training before their event. As Chris Carmichael once told me, “there is nothing you can do the week of a race to increase fitness, but there is everything you can do to screw it up.”
If you are sick, overstressed, or generally feel like you need a day off it is best to take it. Always consider the quality of your work out. If you are just going through the motions and do not have the energy to complete your work outs as prescribed, rest would be more beneficial than additional stress.
It is important to have a written plan. A plan is not a general recommendation but a deliberate course of action. You should be able to see your progression from block to block. The “close enough” attitude is not a good habit to get into. It is better to have the satisfaction of completing your work out as prescribed. Try not to make too many adjustments during your work outs. If you do need to change your plan or miss a work out make sure you adjust your other weeks to compensate.
Training discipline means having a good plan and sticking to it. It means training smart, not just hard. If you are confused about your training consult with a licensed coach. Often a one hour consultation can get you on the right track.
About the Author
Matt Russ has coached and trained athletes around the country and internationally. He currently holds licenses by USAT, USATF, and is an Expert level USAC coach. Matt coaches athletes for CTS, is an Ultrafit Associate, and owner of www.thesportfactory.com
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