Monday 15 April 2013

Spring Training Guidelines and Camp Schedule


Hello everyone, just a reminder that I will be away on a family vacation from April 16 to May 12. If you need to contact me while I am away, please use my xcyukon@gmail.com e-mail address. I will try to check my e-mail from time to time.

I am including some general training guidelines for the next month so that you can all get ready for the start of team practices and the training camp that will be taking place on May. Team practice will resume in early May and our next training camp will be held on May 25-26 at the Summit.

Skiing should continue to be good on the upper trails and on many local lakes for a few weeks. It is a great way to explore the Whitehorse area while getting some exercise.

See you all in three weeks or so. Take care. Alain

Training guidelines:

Start doing some general strength exercises once or twice a week to get ready for team training in May. Just choose 8 strength exercises (upper & lower body as well as core) that you can repeat for 8-12 repetitions for each set. You should do 3 sets of these exercises for a total workout time of ~ 35-40 min. The important thing is to do the exercise well, focusing on proper technique and good execution.

You should also start running twice a week to get ready for team training in May. Start with short and easy runs to get into it and start doing longer runs when the trails dry up later in April. You can supplement your endurance workouts with some skiing, cycling and hiking (as soon as the trails dry up).

At this time of the year, it is a great idea to go and see your family doctor for a comprehensive exam to make sure everything is in good order. If you have any specific issues, consulting a physiotherapist would be a great idea. It is the best time of the year to try and solve any nagging problems or injuries or to prevent future issues.

In terms of training volume, anywhere from 4-8 hours a week for April and 6-10 hours per week for May should allow you to get ready for team training in May.

Summer training Camp schedule;

- Whitepass summit on May 25-26 (skiing/hiking/distance focus)
- Atlin Area from June 28 to July 1 (volume/testing/paddling)
- Haines Road August 1-3  (technique/video/speed)
- Haines Road August 23-25 (technique/video/intensity)