Sprinting at the Track (12/9)
As I mentioned yesterday, today was a day at the track. And not only that but it was a day for the athletes to run sprints.
It turned out that the last couple days have gotten noticeably colder than previous weeks. Highs around 8°C (46°F) and lows around 0°C (32°F). Seeing one’s breath is not even difficult.
I showed up a little before 3:00 and took a little walk around the track to warm myself up. I really bundled up today. I had two pants on (my workout pants and some outer track pants) and 4 layers on top (long sleep running shirt, sweat shirt, wind breaker and huge adidas long,down jacket), plus my ear protectors, gloves and a hat.
When the class showed up and we had finished our joint warm ups and stretches I took off the big Adidas jacket and hat and turned on my iPod. The athletes and I did a different run program today, so first I’ll mention what I did, and then I’ll talk about what they did.
First I jogged an 800 and then walked a 400, followed by another 400 jog. Then I did 4 200/100/100 sequences where I would walk a 200, jog a 100 and then sprint the last 100. I did this 4 times around the track. After the last sprint (which was probably more like 50 meters since I was pretty tuckered) I walked a 400 and then rested a bit, got some water, and walked another 400. Then I did two 200/200 jog/walk sequences. By the time I finished that the athletes were about to start their 30 meter wind sprints so I joined in on that doing 30 meter wind sprints four times.
Over all, i covered more distance than last time, but not as much running, since I was incorporating some sprints this time. Total distance:
Run/Jog: 2.52 KM
Walk: 2.92 KM
Total Distance: 5.44 KM
So, not too bad. I have a feeling that if I wanted to I could probably run a 3K right now. I’m very tempted to incorporate a bit more running in to my week. Perhaps on Saturdays.
The main reason I tried to push myself a bit harder today was because of my upcoming 4 days off from training. Tomorrow is a day off already, as is Saturday and Sunday. But Friday I will be in Southern China so I can’t train on that day. Perhaps Saturday, when I get back to Xi’an, I will go for a light jog or walk along the long park next to Tang Yuan Lu.
Perhaps …
Anyway, for the athletes, I tried to pay attention to what they were doing, so here is my best remembrance:
- 1 x 400 meter jog
- 10? x 30 meter combinations (i.e. high kenes, butt kickers, hops, jumps, etc.)
- 16 x (50 meter sprint / 150 meter jog)
- Cool down / stretch for 5 minutes
- 400 meter sprint
- Take their pulse
- 6 x 30 meter sprint
- Stretch
So, their workout was much more intense than mine, but that is to be expected.
After I had done the 30 meter sprints with them, Zhao Shao Dong told me that it wasn’t good for my body to do sprints in such cold weather. ”What about you?” I asked. I think his reply had something to do with his physical condition being better than mine, but I might have that wrong. He told me that it was better for me to just do a slow jog around the track.
To be honest, that is my preference too. 
On Friday their schedule has them doing more power training and Saturday has them jogging another 10KM.
In any case, I took a little video today, which you can see here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5hPRnC-SYo
I’ve also noticed that I’ve gotten a few more site registrations lately, so thanks to all you new wushuzilla folks out there. I have some cool content planned in a members section in the future, as well as some member-only blogs and videos, so keep your eyes peeled for that. It takes a little while to get these things worked out, but sooner than later, I’m sure.
Until next time. Jiayou!
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6 Responses to “Sprinting at the Track (12/9)”
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Hi Mark!
I’m one of those new registrations that you mentioned in your latest post. Hello!
I wanted to tell you that reading this blog is one of my favorite things in the day (after training wushu of course), it inspire me to practice every day and makes me dream of traveling to China in the future and train just like you.
I live in Chile, and I practice Wushu with a small group of friends for over 3,5 years. We don’t have a teacher, so we learn from each other and the things we find in the internet. About the later I can’t thank you enough for every video that you have posted, in this blog, the wushuzilla channel of youtube, and narom.net, they have helped us enormously to learn and enjoy this everlasting passion.
Gustavo.
Gustavo,
Thanks so much for your comment. I’m really happy that posting up these things is helping someone with their study of wushu. It is one of the reasons I started this in the first place, so I’m very pleased that I am able to make a positive impact on someone’s training.
Keep up the good work and let me know if there is anything specific you are looking to see on wushuzilla.com
- Mark
Hi Mark,
I have a bonus video challenge for you; I want to see your nanquan routine.
ps. Come on guys! It’s not even below zero celcius. You should visit Finland in the winter.
Ah … my nanquan, eh? I was thinking about asking someone to record my form. Perhaps I will have that be a bonus video just for wushuzilla members. I’m not sure I want the general public on youtube being subjected to something like that. lol.
I once went jogging in ZhengZhou in the beginning of 2007 and it was freezing there as well. I must say it is bloody hard to keep yourself jogging in that kind of weather. I only lasted 2 laps of the 400m track, then i gave up.
Yeah, Zhengzhou and Xi’an have pretty much the same sort of weather so I totally sympathize. Last year I was in the mountains of Idaho/Wyoming during January and running in the snow is a whole challenge in itself. While I was trying to keep from falling down I told myself that I would never complain about running in the cold so long as I didn’t have to run on snow and ice.
Of course, that doesn’t make it any less of a challenge.