Machine-translated from Faroese and not yet reviewed. Read the original.
Last weekend saw the second round of the Faroese Confederation of Sports (ÍSF) elite project. The project was launched in the wake of the money the government gave to Pál Joensen and elite sport. Under the project, the sports federations nominate a number of athletes who, together with their coaches and parents, then become part of the scheme. FÍF has chosen the three youngsters Rúni Seloy, Marnar Djurhuus and Dánjal Jákup Niclasen for the group.
On the last weekend in September the group went to Suðuroy. Gymnasts, badminton players, swimmers, triathletes, cyclists and our athletes moved into the guesthouse in Øravík. Our people were Rúni with his parents, Marnar with his parents, Dánjal Jákup with his mother, and Gutti came along as coach. Unfortunately Jógvan, Debes and the undersigned were not able to attend.
The sessions were organised by sports scientist Magni Mohr and swimming coach Jón Bjarnason. The main aim was to help people understand what it takes to do elite sport: to make clear what is required, and that the coach and, not least, the parents are a crucial part of it. In this connection Pál Joensen talked about his training and how his life is governed by swim training almost around the clock. Pál’s mother also described how Pál’s commitment affects everyday life in their home.
Magni Mohr
Magni wanted the athletes to ask themselves and analyse in detail what it takes for them to become the best in their sport. An assignment was set for the next course: the athletes were to learn to keep a training diary that clearly shows the most important parameters in their training.
From the warm-up at Tórsbreyt on Saturday morning
Last weekend things got under way again on Saturday morning at 08:00. Once again Magni Mohr was in charge. We were told that the format of the elite project had now changed, so that it was now a coach education course. The subject was basic training theory. Aerobic, anaerobic and strength training were drilled, from the chemical reactions in the muscle fibres to practical training on the Tórsbreyt track, where blood samples were also taken. The course continued until Sunday afternoon.
Marnar, Gudmundur, Jógvan, Súsanna and Torkil got to try 6 x 2 min. intervals with 1 min. rest.
The aim was for them to run at a high heart rate.
Hallur recorded times and heart rates, Debes ran the stopwatch and Gutti took the odd photo
In the afternoon various interval sessions were on the programme again
Magni took some blood lactate samples from Gudmundur between the intervals
The course is expected to continue in January/February. Exciting topics such as nutrition, mental training and planning the competition season will be covered.
At ÍSF they hope to be able to start a new course series very soon, so that coaches other than just those currently coaching the biggest talents also get the chance to learn and refresh everything about basic training.
