By Chef de Mission Leslie Thornley
Team BC Training Squad camps in November and January seem like so long ago, and it feels like ages since we have been together.
Every athlete should be doing a monthly check-in with their Team BC coach if they do not already see them in a weekly practice. Mission Staff members have been keeping me in the loop on all the great training routines and the high levels of commitment across the province.
For our bowlers, some of your normal programs may start to wrap up towards the end of March, but we still need you to be able to bowl! If you do not have a plan in place, please speak with your coach immediately. As the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Bowling Championships are two months away, you need to keep practicing your form and technique so you are at your best for May!
For the rest of our athletes who have been working on skills and dryland training, we are waiting for the snow to leave so we can get you out on the playing fields! You still have a good five months of training to ensure you are in your peak condition come July.
So, let’s talk about the saying, “Medals are not won at Games, but rather, during the months of training leading up to Games.” What does this mean? It’s a great conversation to have with your teammates and coaches. As your Chef de Mission, to me, it means that in order to have the stamina, strength, and preparation to handle the rigors of Games, you need to be working on your overall fitness, sport skills, and strategies faithfully leading up to Games. You will have a long flight, a full training day, and four or five full days of activities in your sport. This isn’t your normal routine, so it will be tiring. We have seen in the past that athletes who are still as fresh on Friday as they were on Monday at Games have a better chance of achieving their goals.
So, how diligent have you been in attending Club Fit and ensuring you are physically active in sport three days a week, as it states in your contract? It will become clear to us come National Games, and we are looking forward to seeing how fit and prepared our athletes are. Keep on training!
