Dreaming Gives Us a Goal . . . Effort Allows Us to Reach It

Today for the blog narrative update, I have opted to provide you with a "day in the life" of the Virginia Beach Training Camp Participant. Today's blog pictures are just a collection of some of my favorites, to date.









Coach Alexei Mantsorov graciously sat and detailed the workouts from today's training. The following is an account of the day's activities.





We wake the kids at 6:15 a.m. in preparation. They eat a very small amount of food like half of a mini bagel with some cream cheese and a Dixie cup of orange juice. They then dress in swimsuits and dry-fit workout gear and are then covered, from head to toe, in very high SPF sunblock prior to heading to the beach for their first workout at 7:00 a.m.

Workout 1: 7:00-9:00 a.m.

Warm up run of approximately 3 miles (taking the kids, on average, 35 minutes to complete)

Stretching and balancing exercises emphasizing skating positions while balancing in the sand - extra strengthening comes from doing any exercises in loose sand

Core body work - stomach and back exercises specifically targeting the obliques and additional side muscles creating strength for rotation

Stretching for recovery and multi-revolution jumps in both directions

Following the first workout, the kids typically come back to the house, jump in the backyard pool to cool off, and then proceed to run through the shower, dress and eat a larger breakfast at 10:00 a.m. Today's breakfast was egg and sausage casserole and fruit.

After breakfast, the kids seem to be surprisingly full of energy. They typically watch television together in the loft or play in each other's rooms. All of the camp participants are either rooming with another camper or their parent.

At 11:30 a.m., the process begins again to return to the beach for the second workout. The following represents the activities of this workout.

Workout 2: 12:00-2:00 p.m.



Warm-up run of approximately 3 miles, but aiming for negative splits (starting slower and finishing faster)

Jumping exercises that imitate the track and field triple jump with the goal being in creating as much height and distance as possible in the jumps, adding rotations with the jumps and then performing these jumps and rotations backwards

Straight, 2-foot jumps forward with 2, 2-foot jumps with rotations and then covering the same distance with a double axel

Balancing exercises, including running in place with heads back and staring to the sky, then moving to landing position while maintaining balance

Stretching for recovery

Combination double and triple jumps in the sand

The kids return from the noon practice at approximately 2:15 p.m. They jump in the backyard pool for a few minutes, shower quickly, eat lunch, which today consisted of chicken and rice soup, salad and fruit, and then head immediately to their rooms for a nap.

At 4:00 p.m., the kids are awakened and, for the last time of the day, dress, apply sunscreen and ready for their beach workout.

Workout 3: 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Warm up run - approximately 3 miles at an even pace

Stretching for balance and flexibility

Specific technical exercises on sand to replicate what is done on ice

Jumping exercises with emphasis on execution in both the jump and the landing position

Strength training for balance

Generally much harder strength and balancing exercises than in previous two workouts

Alexei felt very good about the kids' efforts today. Yesterday was much harder on our campers. The weather was much cooler today, which resulted in less complaining. There are a few blisters and sore ankles, but generally, the only physical ailments for which there has been much complaining has been sore muscles, particularly calves and shoulders.

The most encouraging comment from Coach Alexei involved the kids' cohesiveness. He stated that the kids seem to be really encouraging and taking care of each other. It is gratifying to put forth the effort to reach our goals, but ultimately rewarding when we can grow friendships in theprocess.