As a member of the regional training centre here in Edmonton, I have
the privilege of working with Dr. Michael Kennedy (@wasprofessor), a professor at
the University of Alberta. Michael's been my physiologist for the past two
years, and the relationship started out with monitoring
my lactate threshold while running. The test itself is fairly simple,
but provides vital information that helps determine what paces I run at to
maximize the effectiveness of my training.
Fast forward two years and we are still working together trying to
fine tune my training. In January, we started
taking a look at my nervous system, and to be more specific, the autonomic. The
procedure is heart rate variability, which requires daily monitoring and weekly
check-ups that allow us to determine the effects of my training, positive or
negative. Throughout my training cycles, we can determine whether the level of
stress applied to my body is adequate, insufficient or damaging, and in turn adjust
my training accordingly to take full advantage of the physiological state of my
body. It has been a steep learning curve and I still have so much to learn.
At the roots of all the tests and programs performed in sport
science, is the desire to change an athlete’s behaviour. From my experience,
this is far more successful when I fully understand the reasoning behind why we
do what we do. This is the fundamental reason why I am in Physical Education.
The faculty provides me the resources to further my understanding of the
physiological adaptations going on in my body and in turn, I am becoming more and
more conscious of what is happening and why. With this knowledge I am gaining
the ability to self diagnosis training stress with Michael’s aid.
Sporting
results aren’t up to chance as some might think. "Oh he’s just so talented", "wasn’t
my day", "he got lucky" and so on. Every move at the elite level is calculated
with absolute precision, and for every result, whether it good or bad, there is
a scientific method to analyze every parameter to determine why such a result was achieved and on the flip side, how to achieve such desired results.
This is the proactive approach I have adopted to not only my
training but to my life. At the core of sport is the development of youth into
better human beings and through these lessons, the Academy has truly given me “A winning environment - opportunity to succeed”
