By Ng Wei Loon
Monday December 17, 2007
DIFFERENT training venues and workout programmes has always provided an energising variation for junior athletes to get away from their mundane training routine.
Over the pre-season conditioning phase, a change in approach helps to keep them revitalised as they strive to boost their physical condition to face stiffer challenges next year.
National Sports Council (NSC) athletics junior development coach Ishtiaq Mobarak said his charges had always benefited from their year-end trip to Cameron Highlands because of the perfect training environment.
“I have been conducting training up there for a long time. The trip is no holiday for them,” he added.
Frog jump: Abdul Razak is psychological prepared to face the strenuous training in Cameron Highlands.
Usually, they will chalk up about 30 units of training sessions over a 10-day stint.
“Naturally, Cameron Highlands is an ideal choice. It is not high altitude training. But, the cool weather and fresh air there allows us to increase our training intensity. And the terrains suit our training programmes,” said Ishtiaq.
However, his charges from the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) are still waiting for the green light to go through the paces there this year.
“If the idea does not materialise, we have to do some adjustments to our plan to gear them up for next year. But, the show has to go on. As alternatives we can either go for a day trip to the beach in Port Dickson or Lake Gardens in Kuala Lumpur. The only thing is that we will be losing out on the training units,” he said.
Since the competition calendar ended in October, the budding athletics trainees from BJSS have moved into the general conditioning phase with long distance runs, weights training and speed drills combined with active recovery session once a week in the pool every Friday.
“I have reminded them that they have such a short period to prepare for next year because they will be competing as early as March before the national schools meet in April,” Ishtiaq added.
The chase is on: Shaniz Mobarak (in blue) leading the pack in an uphill sprint.
As they increase their training load in the specific conditioning phase to transfer their explosive power and strength into their respective events, the trainees acknowledge the sessions are getting tougher.
Rookie Abdul Razak Abdul Rahim, 16, is psychological prepared to face the strenuous training in Cameron Highlands.
“I have heard about the demanding sessions from my teammates,” said Razak.
In contrast, Muhd Ajmal Aiman Mat Hasan, 14, is feeling stronger after his first outing with the team last year.
“I am looking forward to increasing my work load because I am physically in better shape. I have also improved on the movement skills for various drills,” said Ajmal, adding that the drills on the hills and steps were the toughest.
After achieving respectable personal results this year, the promising athletes are aiming to maintain their good run.
“They could sustain their performance throughout the season because they are in good shape by laying a solid foundation during the pre-season. A good example is our up-and-coming boys' 400m hurdler Abdul Azlan Samsuddin,” said Ishtiaq.
Besides finishing fifth place in the boys' 400m hurdles at the World Youth Athletics Championships in the Czech Republic, 16-year-old Azlan also won the gold medal at the Asean Schools Athletics Championships, Malaysia Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Athletics Championships and the National Junior Championships.
In the absence of his regular coach Teh Weng Chang, pole vaulter Mohd Fahme Zamzam also joined the group.
“I trained with the group because my coach is away for more than a week.
“I have gained strength from the weights workout to strengthen on my upper and lower body,” said Fahme, 14. -- The Star Metro
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