Wednesday 30 July 2014

The Boot Camp

Boot Camps, they’re everywhere, often with a military theme. Prior to becoming a PT I’d never been to one, I was a runner and all my training time was spent running. A few of my running mates went to BMF and seemed to enjoy it, but I was focused on running so I didn’t join them. As a runner I did tend to concentrate on the running side of things, I tried circuits, I tried drills, I never tried weights but I used other cardio machines, mainly though I ran, I ran fast and I ran long, occasionally I also ran slow. Things have changed and it’s probably my understanding of alternative exercises that has helped me to adapt my training methodology, that and the fact that I can’t do the mileage I used to do without breaking down. However I still believe, as an endurance runner, your primary focus for training has to be running.

During my PT training one of the modules was about creating a boot camp. It was fairly common sense and all it really taught us was to use your knowledge to be creative with your environment. I enjoyed the module, particularly as it was run predominantly as a number of boot camp sessions, both in and outside, and I passed the exam. I was now free to set myself onto the exercising public.

But I waited, I was still working at the time, that coupled with my own training and preparing for a move down to England meant I had no time to put into the boot camp experience and anyway it would have been short lived, with the move.

Once in Cheshire I tried initially to establish myself as a gym based PT. Alongside that I established running group training, I figured that any PT could do a boot camp and I needed time to find my own training theme before I could hope to excel at that, but, although any PT could have an understanding of running, I figured my understanding of how to develop running training plus knowing what it took to improve from jogger to International standard would set me aside. Then after a while I started to run a boot camp after my Saturday morning run group.

As time went on and I became more established I decided it was time to free up my weekends for family time and races and with the 1:1 PT going well there was less time to do the boot camps. So I took a break from running them.

Last year I was contacted by the Sandbach Round Table, to organise a one off training session before they tackled the three peaks challenge. They enjoyed it so much they asked if I could do it as a regular boot camp. So all summer we did a once a week boot camp in the Sandbach area. It worked well and you could see the group getting fitter but also exercising better as I explained movements to them. Winter came and we couldn’t find a suitable indoor venue so we let it drop and I used the time to increase my 1:1 PT. But this summer we’re back in Sandbach with a bigger and better boot camp experience. The group comprises of both male and female members and we’ve opened it up to non members of the Round Table at £5 for the hour long session.

With all the training I do for my own goals (twice a day minimum) I’d always thought my own involvement at the boot camps should be one of demonstration, observation and encouragement. However I think the group wanted me to show them that I could do what I was asking them to do so we made an agreement. If I didn’t break 17:15 for 5k at the BMAF champs then I would do the next week’s boot camp alongside them. Now that may seem like a weak goal, considering what times I’ve run in the past, but I’d been struggling to get under 17:30 all year. As it turned out I ran 17:11 so I was saved! But come the next boot camp I decided to join in anyway, and I enjoyed it so much I decided to join them regular and count that as my second session of that day.

The benefits are clear, my involvement allows me to push the group harder because I can feel their pain, I tell them if I’m finding an exercise hard so they know I’m suffering like them but at the same time I’m grunting encouragement. The other benefit, to me, is that I no longer have to find the time for that second session of the day, plus I really enjoy the boot camp, it gives me everything I need to help my running, strength, endurance, core exercises and plyometric movements, and we have a laugh. So I’m going to continue going and work to make them harder each week, why not come and join us.

Written by Roger Alsop
www.rogeralsop.co.uk

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