Disability sports experts?
Posted on 1st January by John Hampshire
Lying in bed pondering where our business is going on the advent of our second training camp, I realise that we are developing some significant expertise in disability sport. Having backgrounds in endurance sport, it is no surprise that this is initially in the endurance events but considering the generalities of all sports - the read across to more skills base sports is obvious; through our first principles approach to understanding biomechanics and physiology for each individual before applying it to their particular requirements for their sport.
Hand cycling has been our first step into the world of disability sport. Wanting to make our company accessible and useful to all from the outset, we contacted Karen Darke, visited her, chatted, did physiological tests and John ended up offering to coach her…. Two years later, a place in the British Cycling team, a period of time as leader of the UCI World Cup in womens’ H2 and a couple of medals at the 2012 World Championships, we see ourselves heading full on into the London Olympics. John’s recent appointment as British Cycling Paralympic hand cycle coach provides further endorsement for our work.
Fit for Purpose from Andy Kirkpatrick on Vimeo.
With our experience of hand cycling and expanding to work with more disabled clients, we have learned about how our other skills apply. For instance we have seen how soft tissue therapy can be combined with strength and conditioning to restore symmetry of motion, improving biomechanics, skill and efficiency; making it possible to execute movements and activities that were previously impossible.
On the downside, we have learnt that knowledgeable and skilled support for disability sport is hard to come by. The national bodies have limited funding and are often only able to help Olympic gold medal prospects, and even then they often have to stretch their resources.
However, I’m not sure this is much better in able bodied sport and in the good old days, people had to do things for themselves; working full time, raising a family and training and racing as best they could. Looking at some sports, one has to wonder whether they weren’t better in those days - take distance running: Coe, Ovett and Cram.. Steve Jones ran 2:07 for the marathon.. etc. So it’s just a case of get on and do the best you can with the situation you have.
I’m flying to Mallorca this morning to provide three weeks supported training in Puerto Pollensa; a relaxed, predictable and warm climate, returning on 20th January. Anyone is welcome to join us.
After that, we will be in Lanzarote from 7th to 23rd February, see our dedicated web page. There is a big hand cycling festival there including some short races, I haven’t been before but I’m sure it will be great. Why not join us - it would be fantastic to work with you but there is no obligation, it’s just nice to participate with everyone doing their best and having a good time.
Find out more about the camps via the webpage, ask us or ask Karen for an athlete’s opinion.
Snow on the mountains this morning: my fingers numb as the cold penetrates the gloves, heavy breathing fogging my glasses as I work hard to climb the hills, big puffy pants to stop my legs freezing,
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