Training camps are an increasingly popular things for athletes to do in range of sports, and for good reason – they are a fantastic way to get some great training done, go away on a trip to new places, get to know fellow athletes, and more. But training camps can also break some people – physically and mentally – so they need to be planned and approached with care.
Because training camps are a focused block of training, they need to be planned with the same care as any training block, which is the first part of the trick with holding camps – how to cater for the needs of all “campers” with different training needs. Inevitably there is some compromise required where athletes put themselves in the hands of the camp organiser – hopefully a qualified and experienced coach – so they get the benefit of group training. However it is really important that campers know their limits and are careful about how much training workload they undertake.
An example of these are the well known “Epic Camps” organised by some Ironman coaches in various places around the world. As the name suggests, they are epic in terms of the volume – and intensity, at times – of training completed, and being surrounded by equally motivated and high achieving people. For athletes who complete it they can be rewarded with a huge breakthrough in their training and fitness, but a friend of mine once did an Epic Camp…had an amazing experience…but which perhaps compromised his performance at Ironman Australia in a year where he was looking good for a Kona spot. So the moral is for athletes to take responsibility for the training load they actually complete during camps.
But putting words of warning aside, training camps are a great place to share knowledge and experiences, learn from coaches in an environment where there are few distractions, and focus on the training task at hand.
The location of the camp has a huge bearing on its success – there needs to a good selection of training options which are easy to navigate, and importantly, the location needs to be appealing enough for athletes to come along, however far the amount of travel is. For example, coming up here to Falls Creek is a large investment in time and travel, but the appeal of the camp scenario and the location are strong and hence why it has become a popular venue for camps catering for the elite through to age group athletes.
Where you stay also has a bearing on the camp, since without the usual distractions the downtime between training sessions can drive athletes nuts, not to mention getting on the nerves each other if there isn’t enough room to relax in or things to do. And if the weather is bad, “cabin fever” can test the patience of even the most relaxed person. For our group of 15 up here, the layout of the lodge we’re in is fantastic…not to mention kitchen facilities and the catering planning that was required. So there’s a lot to think about when planning a camp.
But once you’re on camp, the most important thing is to go with the flow and adapt to the circumstances you’re in. Accept that things will not be the same as when you’re back at home, and you’ll need to change your routine somewhat. Stepping outside your comfort zone is critical to taking steps forward in your fitness at a training camp, so while being mindful of managing your training load, going with the flow of the camp helps to get the most from the experience and effort of going to the camp.
Perhaps the most memorable parts of training camps – apart from great training sessions – are the social side of the camp. The fun and good times you can have will be memorable, the banter, jokes, games and more. And as always, what goes on camp stays on camp…except that one time at band camp…
So training camps are great for many reasons, and benefits you get from them are endless as long as you’re adaptable and immerse yourself in the camp experience and be part of the camp. Happy campers are happy athletes.
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