Cadets experience best of CISM training at U.S. Olympic Training Center
OCdt Ashley Galvin
While many RMC cadets were relaxing on beaches, soaking up the sun in various resorts and partaking in a range of other adventures, a few could be found at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
On Sunday, February 15th, IV Ashley Fitzpatrick, III Patrick Wheeler, II Aaron Bradley, II Ashley Galvin, as well as Breanne Gibson, (RMC Grad ‘08) and Lieutenant (Navy) Trevor Davies (Coach of the Varsity Running Team) flew down to Colorado to take part in a triathlon training camp as members of the CISM Triathlon Core Team of 2009. While in Colorado, the athletes were coached by prominent athletes such as 17323 Sharon Donnelly (4 time Canadian Champion, ‘99 Pan Am Games, Sydney ’00 Olympian, and former RMC ’89 grad) as well as the Head coach of CISM Triathlon and 2 time Ironman Champion, Dave Harju.
The athletes reaped the benefits of training at the Olympic facilities and profited greatly from the opportunities made available to them at the camp. For six days-straight, the triathletes trained in a 50 m Olympic-sized pool, ran the hills of the Garden of the Gods, as well as various other scenic trails, and trained on spin bikes, all while at an altitude that challenged their cardio.
With all the time spent training, the team still managed to find time to explore Colorado Springs and found themselves climbing the 1 mile-long, 2000 ft Manitou Springs incline with a grade as steep as 68%!
This year, the Colorado Training Camp, as well as other week-long regional training camps, prepares the CISM Core Team for the upcoming triathlon season which will include the Armed Forces Triathlon at Point Mugu, California and the CF Nationals Championship expected to be in Lac Lemay, Quebec.
RMC runners turn heads at the CISM Running Training Camp
OCdt Leah Kellar
The RMC Running Team is leading the pack in developing the CF’s next generation of top-class runners in pursuit of athletic excellence.
Participation soared to a record number of 24 runners compared to recent years thanks in part to a new crop of athletes from RMC.
RMC Varsity Running members, Nicolas St-Amant, Jonathan Lemieux, John Marshall, Jacob Triviers, CJ Best and Leah Kellar, were out in full force at this year’s CISM training camp as the first team of runners to represent RMC in over seven years.
The athletes were immersed in a fun, but intense week of high altitude hill and interval training along red, rocky outcrops and deeply carved canyons nestled in the mountain ranges of Colorado Springs, Colorado during the annual training camp held Feb. 15-22.
CISM organizers planned the camp for February this year instead of the usual December date to accommodate participation from RMC cadets.
“We recognize that we need good, dedicated runners with potential to take some of our places in competition and we see that potential in RMC students who are here. They will be a big part of our success in the future,” said Suzanne Cote, CISM coordinator.
RMC runners eagerly took up the challenge to train at the national level during the Reading Week and stayed at the Olympic Training Centre in Colorado Springs.
The schedule included running 40-50 minute recovery runs at 6 a.m. each morning in Red Rock Canyon located 6,200 ft. above sea level, the Leger Boucher Test, and multiple hill repeats at 30, 60 and 90 minutes in The Garden of the Gods.
Daily training was interspersed with classes in sports psychology, nutrition and the biomechanics of running. A test of high-altitude endurance at Manitou Peaks wrapped up the week. Athletes ran, hiked and, at times, crawled, for a mile along a 41 per cent to 68 per cent grade to the summit at 8,000 ft. above sea level.
The wealth of information and experience offered from veteran CISM champions inspired RMC runners to put forth their best effort during the camp. The team will aim to put it in practice once again when they compete at the upcoming OUA championships and the Kingston Limestone 5K and half-marathon.