Elitetrack: Sport Training & Conditioning

We’re hosting a meet this weekend. We always host one this weekend. The decathlon and heptathlon start today and everything else is tomorrow. It’s still pretty cold out (~40 degrees) and rainy. Officials and the timing system manager are suggesting we do it inside…..even going so far as to see if we have 100m of straightaway to run the first event on our indoor track (we didn’t). We’re about
 
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So would any regional qualifying marks in the field events be legal?

I don’t think so. In the multi there is an indoor exception but I believe it’s only for the pole vault. The rest of the meet is tomorrow and it should all be held outdoors. Given the weather I’m not sure if I’m glad or disappointed.

Mike, unless you have very early conference meets that you must compete in, is there any point in competing in meets with such harsh conditions versus just continuing to train and waiting for better weather?

Well, there is something to learning to compete in bad conditions. In fact, a recent Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research article indicated that occasional cold weather training helps with performance when you have to compete in colder weather.

Really though, I’m only competing my athletes who are not on the automatic travel roster…the ones who need experience or an opportunity to prove themselves. Many of these athletes will only have 2-3 opportunities to compete for the entire outdoor season so in many cases, it’s a ‘take what you can get’ situation. I’m actually holding out about 60% of my group (the ones who always travel) from the meet because of the conditions, the fact that it’s a smaller early season meet, and we’re under such a big training load right now that they wouldn’t do to much even if conditions were good.

And they say the Military has gone soft…

NON-RANT ALERT
We had a meet about 12 years ago in MID MAY that was so wet and cold that the 2nd day of the meet we had to use college kids in many officials positions because the real officicals didnt come back for day 2.

It was so cold that vans pulled up along side lane 8 with the engines running and threw kids out to run then they’d jump back in to get warm.  We considered canceling the Hept (was a women’s only meet) but 1 college had a lady trying to get an NC Q so they insisted we continue on the 2nd day.

Had a marshalling tent on the infield, PA kept telling people (other than competitors & officials) that they had to stay out.  Got so bad out we told the announcer to allow any and all under.  Moments later the thing blew away.

One of my best friends swore he’d never come back to our place or the state ever again.
Years later, he gave an interview to a newspaper and in it he was quoted as saying, “We’ll run against anyone, anyplace, anytime”  I imeadiately emailed him “how bout coming up here?“  He wrote back “ No F—-in way!“  Same story was repeated when he gave a toast at my wedding (his first and only time back!) Would never had seen him had the wedding not been in August!
Seriously, THIS IS NOT A RANT!

The weather was like a nice day at the beach. To bad all the southern people can’t handle the great weather of the north. Once you get used to competing in bad weather it eventually becomes a gift from God.

I’m originally from snow-capitol USA, Buffalo, NY and I can honestly say that I NEVER liked the cold weather. In fact, calling today’s weather “great” would never have crossed my mind. Apparently, the frigid temps have either impaired your cognitive abilities or you’re in such denial that the weather that you’re stuck dealing with sucks, that you’re attempting to make yourself believe that it’s good. If you’re assessment of Northerners is true I might be one of the few who’s brain cells are still fully functional. You view the changing of cold to warm as a blessing from God. I view the cold as a sign from God that an area is not fit for human habitation…I feel I’m letting Him down for not following his ‘oh-so-clear’ signs.

Well two days of attempted competition do screw with my head. I got to stay in denial about the weather since school isn’t moving to Florida anytime soon.

youre afraid of 40 degrees and rain?  man up!

cockysprinter - 29 March 2008 05:36 PM

youre afraid of 40 degrees and rain?  man up!

Which group do you fit in to? The impaired cognitive ability group or the delusional, in-denial one?

Besides, I never said I was afraid, I just said I hate it.

hahaha i dont like it either, but its a fact of life up here.  running inside seems ridiculous to me though.

Why is running inside ridiculous? Having optimal temperature, humidity, and still wind is a bad thing?

Yall should be so thankful to have the option to move indoor… In Oregon there is no mercy.  And University of Washington doesn’t like people using their “grand” facility.  The state of Oregon needs an indoor track (if anyone wants to pich in).  In Oregon… we’re all delusional by the way.  Speaking of 40 degrees and rain… to cope with our delusion we use Starbucks liberally… .

I would imagine if UO really needed and wanted it they could ask Mr. Knight to put an indoor track in and it would probably end up being the best facility in the country.

what about a 400m indoor facility?