Make Fit Happen
The more mileage you put in, the more the body can become stale. Ben Bruce demonstrates his post run workout ― dynamic stretching that helps to maintain an athlete’s range of motion. Static stretching doesn’t work as well so he goes through a series of post run workouts that are most effective for keeping an athlete healthy.
NAU has a great young group of runners who are going to be contributing to the success of the team this year. He believes that they will progress and work to peak at the national meet -an event he believes his team can place top 10, if not make a run at the podium. Heins is quick to give credit to the successful tradition that exists at NAU as well as training at altitude in Flagstaff.
At NAU, Eric Heins doesn’t really push for blood testing his athletes to gauge their health. Instead of opting for a blood test for a given athlete who may not feel well competing at altitude, he simply recommends this supplement to improve his/her overall health and performance.
Coach Heins talks about “finding that sweet spot” as runner. He discusses how he pushes for gradual increases in mileage from his runners but pinpoints a specific example where one of his most talented athletes never ran more than 40 miles/wk. Each athletes has/her right amount to where he/she is going to get out of the workout what is necessary to be successful.
Coach Heins adjusts training regiments for his incoming freshman runners. He mentions having his athletes put in 65-70 miles a week before coming to school, and then as they get to Flagstaff, he brings them down to about 55 m/wk. Heins goes in depth about the struggles that many athletes encounter when 1st training at altitude, but he points out that these struggles end up paying dividends for his athletes in the future.
NAU Head Coach, Eric Heins, discusses adjusting to altitude, in particular, how altitude training affects the body. He points out how his runners get used to hurting while training at NAU, but doing so gives them a mental edge when competing at sea level against the competition.
Salazar talks about finding a balance within the Oregon Project’s progressive training methodology. He discusses how many of the training systems and regiments his athletes partake in are new or ahead-of-their-time, but because of this, Salazar can’t always decide objectively (or scientifically) what tactics work and what tactics don’t; if Salazar can’t see any benefit in trying something new just to try something new, then he probably won’t go ahead with it.
Before being brought into the Oregon Project, each athlete has to be not only a good fit for Alberto Salazar but also a good fit for the team as a whole. Being an excellent runner doesn’t necessarily place an athlete in the group if that athlete doesn’t mesh well with the vibe and overall dynamic of the Oregon Project as a whole.
Alberto Salazar talks about the “Open Door Policy” he has with his athletes. Salazar encourages his athletes to speak their minds about training; he talks of how he is willing to compromise on training regiments if athletes are willing to “buy off” on his overall philosophy as a coach.
Alberto Salazar discusses the mental component of training. He points out how, unlike in other sports, athletes in his sport ignore psychological training. Salazar emphasizes that the mental aspect of training and competing is just as important as the athletic.
2012 Silver Medalist Leo Manzano picked a young unknown coach in 2008 to lead him to the medal stand. Ryan Ponsonby was a volunteer assistant coach at Texas when Manzano asked Ryan to coach him. Over the last 4 years there have been many ups and some downs. At the 2012 Olympics here in London, all their work paid off as Leo Manzano kicked past 7 runners in the last 100 meters to win the Silver Medal in historic fashion. Leo’s Silver medal is the USA’s first medal in the 1500 since 1968!
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