We often design the workouts so the athlete must go increasingly harder or faster as the workout evolves. Sadly, the opposite practice where one slows down, takes more rest, strips weight and asks for a spot is common elsewhere. If practicing to slow down doesn't make sense then how can the many training phenomenon one might describe with the broad phrase "training to failure" make sense? In our opinion they don't, which is why we won't consciously train to failure or put together debilitating suck-fests as a common training "method."How are your sessions designed?
Is your warmup an actual warmup or is it a workout?
Do you incorporate "finishers" into your program design?
When you tell others about your workout do you cite how hard it was? Or how intelligently it was designed?
Any asshole can write a hard workout: Burpees for time. Hill sprints. Squats to failure. Etc etc.
But does a hard workout make you better? Will a hard workout help you reach your goal?
Programming matters.
7 comments:
John,
I do my own programing. First and foremost I view it as an exercise in self-honesty.
Training is conditioning. The purpose is to condition the subconscious mind to allow the body to fully express its potential. My programming builds confidence in my sub-conscious mind to commit whole heartedly to the task at hand. Every training session has a goal. These mini goals will sum to form large goals.
It is individual, it is goal orientated. Failure is not part of it. Missed reps happen, but failure destroys the process.
V/R,
Pat M
I agree with your approach Pat. The mind truly is primary. It is the mind that almost always holds us back... not the muscles.
That said I meet more and more people that automatically assume more is better which I would agree to a point. But when it turns into junk intensity... or worse, then you're doing more harm than good. And if the goal is truly to improve then some of the physical limitations need to be accounted for along with the mental limitations.
John,
I think for most people it is easier to tell people to just go harder, embrace the suck, whatever. I think that is a way people can make money as "trainers". Maybe these trainers do not know any better, or maybe they know if they told people the truth these paying customers would leave.
People just do not want to change. Even today, CFers will talk about how much better they are then those poor souls on the treadmills at a globo gym. They do not even realize that doing METCON after METCON in the 20min time range is just about the same thing as 20min on the elliptical/stepper/treadmill/whatever.
I do not know who to blame more...the customer err I mean "athlete" or the personal trainers err I mean "coach". Instead, I removed myself from that world. My gym is my basement. I will only progress to the degree that I am honest with myself.
I really do believe if people were just honest with themselves there would be no need for personal trainers. But, people are not, so they will continue to "embrace" the suck, continue to think they "earned" that ice cream sundae and continue to believe they are "elite" even though they can not do one physical movement anywhere close to what an elite athlete can do.
I agree with you 100%. That said I have benefitted from having a coach as well as some mentors as their insight and guidance has helped me make gains much faster.
Train hard
John,
I too, have benefitted from apprenticing under very good masters throughout my life. The relationship of athlete/coach, student/teacher, and apprentice/master is unique and special. It is defined by a trust that is earned.
I am not against coaching, rather against what many, many people call coaching and charge way too much for. In the age of fancy websites and weekend certifications, everyone is a master coach. Just ask them. Keep the post coming.
V/R,
Pat M
What exactly do you mean when you say "Finishers"? Are you referring to CV oriented activity including relevant sport specific assistance exercises?
Good question Lizzie. I most commonly see it when coaches cling to the idea that the athlete should breathe hard at every session. Absolutely CV oriented activity is important especially if it is sport specific. However if the design of a particular gym session is say strength for example then do the strength work and be done. Do your sport specific work at a later time.
All too often coaches are over programming or filling the session with work just because the feel they need to fill the hour. The result is often junk volume.
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