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Altitude, Science, and Magic

We just had our first run at altitude today. It felt awful. I wish I could say it didn't. I wish I could say that I felt like a million bucks, like a million bucks growing in a good stock market. But I didn't. Maybe it wasn't the altitude that caused the ill-effect, maybe it was the two day respite from physical activity that logged the legs and put them in shock mode today. Or maybe, it was that I danced my face off Saturday night at a wedding. Or that I traveled cross country and back in 40 hours to get to that wedding. All of which, the dancing and traveling, was great for the soul, but not so great for recovery from a hellish week of training.

This week will be different. The sights, sounds, and smells of Chula Vista replaced with those of Colorado. The team traveled to the Springs yesterday for a training camp at the Springs Olympic Training Center. The purpose of our rendez-vous is altitude acclimatization - optimizing our bodies to perform under the environmental stress of high altitude.

The 2011 Pan American Games, our Olympic Qualifier, will be held in Guadaljara, Mexico, which sits 5,215 feet above sea level.

Within the past year, our training regiment has become highly scientific. It is no longer the old "run shuttles till you puke" mentality.  The training is based on objective data of blood lactaid, heart-rate, hydration, and aerobic threshold. It takes a systematic approach to optimizing individual performance. A fitness approach rooted in the idea that each body operates differently.

Individual success is the most basic indicator of a successful team.  On a great team, every individual role is optimized; every individual thrives. But often, because of the myriad of variables within team sports, it is easy for responsibility to be diffused. Some may get lax on the details, while others carry the slack.

A measurable approach to training ensures that each individual is accountable to the details of their individual success, thus promoting the success of the team.

Often, we hear about the magic of team sports. I don't necessarily believe in magic; I believe in a disciplined approach to the details - by every individual that contributes to the group.

You say HOCUS POCUS. I say habits. Which means, I ought to turn off the computer and head to bed.

Healthy Habit #1: Let your body and mind rest. Get a good night sleep.

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