Category Archives: Training

Bermuda Shorts

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Just finished my first ever Bermuda-New York team challenge! Can’t really sit comfortably, but it hurts too much to stand up right now.

It’s been going for years, thanks to an awesome group of individuals in both places, as well as (recently) people from Boston and Montreal. And I’ve more-than-halfway committed to going on the return in November. Thought that might be a good short-term goal to help me get back on court.

Coaching is one thing, but getting out there this weekend really reminded me that this is what I do best, and that I will be sad when it is really finally behind me. So until then, while I have the energy and strength, let me keep learning!  🙂

Summer Squash Clinics

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I’ll be running clinics at NYSC Cobble Hill on Thursdays and Saturdays. Three levels, 45 minutes, and room for 4 people.

Each day we’ll start with the Beginner-Low Intermediate players, then the Intermediate players (around 3.0), and we’ll finish with High Intermediate-Advanced.

If you want to join us, just post a comment here and I’ll get in touch with you. Or you can use these Doodle links:

C’mon out and learn, practice, get fit, and have some fun!

 

What do you mean “It’s August”?

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Yikes.

I spend my summers working pretty hard. And I do mean at work. So when I look up and see how close September is, I get a bit of vertigo. Partly because I love the long hot days of summer (yes, even the ones in New York), partly because I can feel the squash season approaching, and partly because I know I’m not quite as ready as I wanted to be at the end of last season.

But the good news is that it’s cool enough now to get out on the road and stretch my legs. Later today, I plan to be somewhere on that splendid path beside the Hudson, trying to see if I can run a few miles. The first few times it’s more about remembering how much concentration it takes to keep putting one foot in front of the other, how much harder it is to run on solid ground than it is on a treadmill, and how critical steady breathing is. This is where I am for the first four or five runs, assuming I can get out two or three times a week.

After that, things start to change pretty quickly. Pace-wise, stride-wise, breathing and focus. And I start to feel YES. I start to put on a bit of weight, energy levels go up, joints start to feel snug. All good. This year, I am going to limit myself to about 40 minutes running, and add some calisthenics and stretches. This is more about balance than science: my personal goal is to feel great on court, not necessarily to win the nationals… As a young player, believe me, I had routines and regimens aplenty!

Having said that, if you are also looking towards the season and wondering how you can get ready for it, I have one piece of advice: keep records of your training. Start now. It is the only way for you to know for sure that you are on track, that you aren’t skipping workouts, and that you are making progress.

There are a lot of programs out there for doing this. One that I have just found is called micoach, from Adidas. It’s got all sorts of tools to help you plan your workouts, maps for roadwork, advice, a calendar…oh, and lots of hype about their products (whaddya gonna do?).

Anyway. I hope you have been having a great summer and that you are itching to get on court with friend and foe alike!!