31.05.2017
More than a decade ago, I started working as an independent exercise physiologist and physical trainer. I guess only three lactate measurement devices could be found in town: me, the university and maybe another exotic freak. Nowadays, you probably can find some 200 lactate devices in the same area. More athletes ask for testing and advice than in 2006, but the number of test centers has grown even more. I am inclined to think that, as a result of that evolution, the number of exercise tests – which was fairly constant in the period 2007-2012 – in our center started to decrease dramatically since 2013, performing only half the amount of tests in 2016 as compared to five years before (see picture above).
Also more than a decade ago, and I don't mention this without pride, I was still one of the fastest runners in Belgian triathlon. During 2000 and 2006 I was also one of the very few foolish guys, who accepted a half-time salary in favour of his passion. Nowadays, choosing for a half-time job has become far from exceptional (as are 3 training camps a year), and you can find at least a dozen of Belgian triathletes who can run 10K in the same time as I did 10 years ago.
It is my opinion that the above examples from endurance sports are characteristic for all kinds of training and the sports industry in general. The amount of sub-elite athletes has grown increasingly, with reportedly eg. many more A-players in tennis. Much more athletes and players (try to) train the quantity and the quality of professional (i.e. full-time and/or paid) athletes or players. Structured interval training sessions were the privilege of elite athletes in the days of Gaston Roelants and Emil Zatopek; anno 2017, every trainer is supposed to know what kind of interval training for what period of the year. On the average, athletes certainly compete at a higher level; the ‘average athlete’ of 2017 is definitely stronger than the ‘average athlete’ of 10 years ago – at least at the elite and sub-elite level.
Likewise, it is clear that the number of trainers and coaches has increased accordingly in previous years. Do they just follow their passion or are they also more ‘professional’ as well? Their website gives the impression, but do they really have the ‘luggage’ (and the time, because most of them are only part-time trainer) to ‘leave as little as possible to chance’ in the preparation of their pupils? Undoubtedly most trainers are more educated than their counterparts of half a century ago. They very often have an academic degree and they follow additional, specific courses to become a qualified trainer. In addition, many of them are excellent (enter)t(r)ainers ! Yours truly is the first one to admit that a scientist / exercise physiologist is far from always the ‘best coach’ (insofar as this exists at all).
So, when I lately was asked by someone (I do not even remember who it actually was) ‘whether the sports industry has become more professional’, my answer is yes. On the other hand, I must be honest and I think there’s still ‘room for improvement’. Everyday I see many athletes and players – of an ‘acceptible’ level – doing ‘crazy’ things, not being surprised that they ‘underperform’.
I am truly happy to be able to say that I still learn a lot every single day (life is boring in the comfort zone), but I am also happy to be able to say that some of you, trainers, can learn something from me about lactate testing. "Second only to freedom, learning is the most precious option on earth" (Norman Cousins).
Looking foward to meeting you in my upcoming workshops,
Karel
#TrainHardButSmart
Also more than a decade ago, and I don't mention this without pride, I was still one of the fastest runners in Belgian triathlon. During 2000 and 2006 I was also one of the very few foolish guys, who accepted a half-time salary in favour of his passion. Nowadays, choosing for a half-time job has become far from exceptional (as are 3 training camps a year), and you can find at least a dozen of Belgian triathletes who can run 10K in the same time as I did 10 years ago.
It is my opinion that the above examples from endurance sports are characteristic for all kinds of training and the sports industry in general. The amount of sub-elite athletes has grown increasingly, with reportedly eg. many more A-players in tennis. Much more athletes and players (try to) train the quantity and the quality of professional (i.e. full-time and/or paid) athletes or players. Structured interval training sessions were the privilege of elite athletes in the days of Gaston Roelants and Emil Zatopek; anno 2017, every trainer is supposed to know what kind of interval training for what period of the year. On the average, athletes certainly compete at a higher level; the ‘average athlete’ of 2017 is definitely stronger than the ‘average athlete’ of 10 years ago – at least at the elite and sub-elite level.
Likewise, it is clear that the number of trainers and coaches has increased accordingly in previous years. Do they just follow their passion or are they also more ‘professional’ as well? Their website gives the impression, but do they really have the ‘luggage’ (and the time, because most of them are only part-time trainer) to ‘leave as little as possible to chance’ in the preparation of their pupils? Undoubtedly most trainers are more educated than their counterparts of half a century ago. They very often have an academic degree and they follow additional, specific courses to become a qualified trainer. In addition, many of them are excellent (enter)t(r)ainers ! Yours truly is the first one to admit that a scientist / exercise physiologist is far from always the ‘best coach’ (insofar as this exists at all).
So, when I lately was asked by someone (I do not even remember who it actually was) ‘whether the sports industry has become more professional’, my answer is yes. On the other hand, I must be honest and I think there’s still ‘room for improvement’. Everyday I see many athletes and players – of an ‘acceptible’ level – doing ‘crazy’ things, not being surprised that they ‘underperform’.
I am truly happy to be able to say that I still learn a lot every single day (life is boring in the comfort zone), but I am also happy to be able to say that some of you, trainers, can learn something from me about lactate testing. "Second only to freedom, learning is the most precious option on earth" (Norman Cousins).
Looking foward to meeting you in my upcoming workshops,
Karel
#TrainHardButSmart