Let's say you – or, if you consider yourself too respectable for this kind of activity, then, for example, your child – need to quickly pass a running test. You need to pass, but you just can't. No way. No matter how much training you do! What to do?..
But there is one “secret” training technique for such cases. Of course, for people who are experienced in such matters, there is no “secret” here. Everything is simple. But for those who “just” need to pass the test, this technique may really be a “terrible secret” – a kind of magical secret behind seven seals. Shall we reveal it?
I discovered this secret many years ago: 18 or 19 – I don’t remember… The thing is, I had problems with track and field since school. I couldn’t run, that’s all. Oddly enough, I passed any exam on skis without any special effort, and even ran in some serious adult category for a schoolboy. But running… I didn’t attach much importance to it at school, but then I had to pass army standards for middle-distance running. At the end of summer! Well, no, not in winter! No – in summer!
I started running more. I was puffing and puffing at training sessions without much success, measuring out useless kilometers with my poor legs. It wasn't “going”. And once I shared my troubles with my friend Oleg, a first-class boxer.
– Well… Let's run! – he suggested happily.
We ran. He, knowing that I was overtaking him on skis “almost on foot”, at first did not believe in my “running incompetence”. He was convinced…
– Here's the thing, – he said after some thought. – You weren't doing endurance training in your training, but rather speed running training?
– ??? – this was my silent answer.
– Ah! Well, then I understand! So, from tomorrow onwards, you do it like this. Run at an easy pace, without rushing, slowly jogging along the track. Then you make a sharp dash for about a hundred meters, and then jog calmly again, rest. Repeat everything every two hundred meters. Don't run a lot, three or four kilometers will be enough for you to start with. Got it?
– I understand, what’s not to understand… Will it help?
– We'll see! But it should work! I'm telling you that!..
I couldn't believe it at all: I became much less tired during training and it seemed that there would be no return… But it helped! I passed my “problem” running test quite calmly. Of course, I had to “resist”, but how could I do without it. Moreover, with the beginning of the winter season, I applied this “secret” tactic in my ski training. And I went much faster. And then it all broke through, the results, as they say, “flooded in”, and I was even invited to our local army ski team.
Of course, it wasn't all that simple. For example, before things really got going, another friend of mine, Igor from Nizhny Tagil, helped me a lot with his wonderful advice and friendly support from a more experienced comrade. By the way, I don't remember why now, but we called him “lemming – northern hamster”. Or just Gosha. Before his service, Igor ran for the junior Olympic reserve team of the second team. I don't know what kind of team it was and whose it was, but Gosha was a really cool runner. And he was an experienced sports fighter! Now I can't bring myself to call him a “lemming”. Heh! Those were fun times!..
But I digress! In general, there is such a “secret” training technique in the sports arsenal. Use it, dear readers – don’t be sorry! You know that patience and work will grind everything down! Don’t be discouraged by failures. And remember that friendship is a great thing! Take care of your friends! Good luck to you!
