Petersen Performance Lab Newsletter

Nov 5, 2007

Most of the athletes are currently in the off-season at Petersen Performance Lab (PPL). So what are we doing? We are focusing on limiters, which includes higher intensity training, working on efficiency (via video analysis and/or drills), and/ or in a few isolated cases, increasing volume. The latter applies to those training for the Philadelphia Marathon, Walt Disney Marathon, and Ironman Arizona.
A big thank you to those athletes that have volunteered to participate in my study. The results will potentially help all those that are in the sport of cycling and triathlon. I am collecting some great data and if everything goes well, the article should be published by next summer. Of course, those that participated in the study have received some of their individual data back already and will receive the results of the study after the statistics are complete. I am still looking for a few more lab rats to participate in the study before December. If you are interested, please contact me ASAP.

Over the next two months, I will be holding two clinics to fine tune efficiency. The first being a run gait analysis clinic and the second is a swim stroke analysis clinic.

Run Gait Analysis Clinic

How is your run technique? If you are not running like Chris pictured , then its time to work on your running form. All too often I see runners focus on volume and never evaluate what they are doing. Video analysis allows everyone to work on their technique with improved effectiveness. Golfers, swimmers, etc. have been doing this for years. People take golf lessons, swim lessons, dance lessons, Tae Kwon Do lessons, but up until now running lessons have been infrequently utilized. Now results from research allows runners to take lessons to improve their running efficiency. There are certain aspects of running technique that all elite runners share. Nearly all of these running techniques can be utilized by everyone with PATIENCE and PRACTICE. PPL will be offering a two part gait analysis clinic on Saturdays Nov. 10 and Nov 17 at 9:30 a.m. at its partner facility Peak Performance located at 26 S. La Grange in downtown La Grange.

Swim Stroke Analysis Clinic

Are you as confident as Andy above when you exit the water, or are you just grateful that there is more than one bike left in the transition when you exit the water? If the answer is the latter or you just want to get faster in the water, you need to work on technique. Over 90% of swimming speed is determined by technique. The best way to improve technique is via video analysis.

The next swim technique workshop will be held on Dec. 9 at 5:00 p.m. at the Indian Boundary YMCA in Downers Grove. The workshop will include a structured workout posted on the swim deck that includes drills that cover the most common errors. Coach Brett will be on the swim deck to answer any questions concerning the drills. Each swimmer will be videotaped above and below the water. Following the workshop, each swimmer will receive a CD containing the video, pictures, and commentary. The CD will be mailed within two weeks of the clinic. The fee per participant is $123. Athletes of Petersen Performance Lab and/or Salt Creek Triathlon Club can participate in the clinic at a discounted rate of $103. This clinic is limited to 12 participants. We will have the entire pool to ourselves! All participants must pre-register and pay by November 19.

More Research Participants Needed For NEW Study

PPL needs more research participants for a preliminary study. Partipants must be well trained, know their resting HR, lactate threshold HR, and be willing to run a 10K race before the end of the year. If you do not know your lactate threshold but wish to participate in the study, PPL will offer a LT test at a significant discount (however you must run a 10K within 1 month of the LT test to qualify for the discount). Please contact Coach Brett immediately if you are interested in participating.