Bedford & County athletes Suzi Boast and Matt Bergin hit the heights at the latest ‘On Camp with Kelly’ get-together at Leeds Metropolitan University last week, benefitting from the opportunity to experience training in an altitude chamber.
Boast has been a member of double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes’ initiative since 2007 while Bergin was invited after taking part in the ‘Future Stars with Kelly’ initiative for medalists at the Aviva English Schools Championships.
The day started for the athletes with a tough running session led by Dame Kelly. They then took part in an injury prevention workshop with leading physiotherapist Alison Rose, who treated Kelly during her career.
The athletes learnt a series of exercises to help correct imbalances and weaknesses as well as some useful self-massage techniques.
In the afternoon, the athletes took part in a workshop on altitude training with English Institute of Sport Senior Physiologist Dr Barry Fudge who works with UK Athletics on their altitude training programme.
After learning about the theory of training at altitude Suzi and Matt had the opportunity to experience exercising in an altitude chamber set to 3000 metres above sea level.
Eighteen-year-old Bergin, who is coached by Mark and Simon Goodwin, said: “The Aviva-sponsored get-together provided me with a great insight into altitude training, the benefits and importance of it.
"I also learnt the importance of self-massage and stretching in reducing the risks of injury, this is something I definitely need to address for me to really excel in the coming years.”
Boast added: “As usual the get-together has been really motivating and beneficial and it was great to see Kelly and the team. It was very useful to hear a professional explanation about altitude training and its benefits as well as precautions you should take.”
For more information about the ‘On Camp with Kelly’ mentoring and education initiative, supported by Aviva, visit http://www.oncampwithkelly.co.uk/.
