Posted by Andrew (216.232.202.249) on January 10, 2004 at 15:54:56:
In Reply to: Re: Assessments prior to an important competition posted by Juerg on January 07, 2004 at 16:00:16:
Hello Kevin, I don't know if you remember me, we ran a Leukemia Relay in the summer of 1991 or 1992 with Paul Havens in Quesnel. I used to coach the swim team up there.
Anyway, interesting question about the testing prior to racing. I agree with Juerg that some athletes will truly see the test as an assessment to help them race better, but for others it will play into their fears, especially if they have had some "down" weeks, affected by poor health or not enough sleep, or stress at work.
I also know from experience, that some athletes can not deal with the amount of information that is available from a good test. They want to race to their potential, but don't want to over-analyze it, because for them, the joy of racing is in listening to your body, and enjoying the strength and beauty in feeling fast and strong. Others, like myself, constantly strive to achieve the best result we can on that day, and that means trying to get it right.
I would suggest the benefits of testing prior to racing are also very different between the strong recreational athlete and the elite competitor, who has many more races in the future, and needs the information in order to perform at their peak for that one race which they have focussed on over the years.
Certainly a lot of room for discussion, and I believe this is where true coaches and good coaches excell, is making these decisions with their athletes.