Training Camps

Is 10 days the perfect amount of time to spend on a camp? I guess it depends on a number of factors – for example the location, the weather, the company or the plan. What is enough time to get an overload or stimulus without over doing it ? When it comes to altitude they say 3 weeks minimum. When you only have 30 days at home in a year has your life become just a series of camps ? Are they then termed camps? Or is it just where you happen to be   . . . I am starting to confuse myself as I ramble.

We have just spent 18 days in my beloved Aguilas. I reckon that was enough this time around. A change of scene and knowing that the change was coming was perfect. In the past I became a little bit stale, staying for too long, getting very fit and then losing it or getting fit and then getting injured.  The stimulus is no longer there and maybe to my own fault I am not good at taking days ‘off’. Or maybe I has handicapped with a lack of knowledge when I was younger. I definitely did a lot of trial and error !

I read recently that the same key session repeated 3 times maxes it out – in order to progress the session needs to progress. Alterations are needed as the body becomes familiar to the work load and/or will break down under constant load. To go harder, longer, change the recovery times, change the cumulative loads, change the emphasis/goal or simply change the environment.

Nearly 3 weeks is a long enough time to spend with anyone in a hotel suite – especially just 2 athletes and especially when 1 of those athletes is me and neither of us are particularly attractive  . .. . ‘speak for yourself’ says He !  Alas he survived the final days through switching off into books and not entertaining my rambling.

The initial excitement of the hotel buffet had worn off and our dinner chat was becoming stale. Initial gentlemanly conversation- topical, informative and sometimes witty – descended towards the gutter, random questions, mumbles and stating the obvious as physical and mental fatigue crept in. Three responces became the norm in those final days and I myself (being immature) quite enjoyed seeing which of the following responces I would get after a random outburst or musing

“Strong look”

“I wouldn’t rule it out”

“Dislike”

When I presented myself in the socks my Gran got me for Christmas . . . there was a sarcastic ‘strong look mate’

We carried out the plan and got the work done – it was just enough to measure it as a success before moving on to a different stimulus.