Glenn's June 2006 Newsletter

"You win some, you lose some, and some get rained out but you gotta suit up for them all" J Askenberg

The Pain barrier
Be prepared for anything on race day! The longer the race, the more you are likely to experience the full spectrum of the above quotation. Some Ohio State University athletes asked me during an interview in Ohio, USA recently how I "get through the pain barrier". In short I replied that it is really about accepting and acknowledging the pain. Once you do this, the pain seems to mysteriously lose its power over you. It is inevitable that in most endurance events, your body and mind will experience some tough moments. Know that these times are "part of the package". For me a race is about getting positive co-operation with your mind and body for as long as possible. I prefer to change the phrase "Pain Barrier" to "Pain Gateway". We collide with barriers and they block us. Gateways, on the other hand suggest they take us through to another side When you are hurting, change your immediate goals. Instead of thinking how "long the hill is" or "How far" 5km feels, set more attainable targets. For example, if you are riding or running a hill, divide the hill into smaller sections in your mind. Aim to get to the 2nd streetlight as an example. Secondly, always "focus on the task". Concentrate your attention on your pedal stroke or your run technique. This simple technique keeps your mind off the pain and not dwelling on "what is to come" or "how much it hurts".

Winter training
Plenty athletes take an hiatus during winter. A rest is important for you. However, too much rest makes it difficult to get going in the spring. If you feel like being a little lazy during winter, I always suggest keeping a "skeleton structure" in place. Keeps a level of training going during a rest phase. 2-3 times per week is sufficient for you to build again. I have found that the neuromuscular connectivity in my legs alters within 24-48 hours. In other words, if I take 2 consecutive rest days-and it is not "active rest" like walking or similar, my muscles recruitment patterns are different. In fact, during my recent preparation for my Powerman duathlon race in Ohio, I noticed how my track times were slower if I rested the day before.
Thus it is easier to simply reduce your training volume in a restoration phase in a similar fashion to a taper. Rather do little bits and pieces more often than longer and fewer.

Rugby buys into Enervit!
An interesting development as far as Enervit goes is the introduction of the famous Cheerpack to some schoolboy rugby teams. I worked with 1 boy who experimented with it during a game and within 2 weeks the entire team was using it! Even more amazing was the fact that they won their matches by 20-30 points! I am happy to do short talks to school boys and girls on how certain products and enhanced nutrition can improve their performance. Feel free to contact me or Jenni Green at jennig@nervitsa.net

A sad farewell
Finally, I feel I must mention the passing of one of South Africa's best sports writers. Bob Aldridge of Running News and Cycling News passed away suddenly on Wednesday 7 June after a severe asthma attack. Bob was a good friend to me and the Enervit team. Thanks for the good humour SuperBob!

Happy training!