I am not going to recommend things like equipment, training, race, etc. to anybody unless I’ve been there, used it, and liked it. The following is something that has benefited me. By the way, I have no business connection with the author or anybody associated with him:
I’ve been using part of the Ready Set Go! program the past two years and intend to use more this year. One of the key parts is the “Sprint 8″. Does the “sprint” part of the title sound familiar? I think it has been significant in helping me to develop speed for racing. Besides speed, the side-effects are numerous and healthful, through the release of natural human growth hormone (HGH) during the anaerobic exercises. A great thing about the program is that it can easily be adapted for people at any fitness level – even beginners who are carrying some extra body weight.
I think there must be some people who have wondered how as a racer I got faster from one year to the next even though I was from the U.S., with little scooter race experience, lacking scooter coaching, and usually I was one of the oldest competitors. There are probably several factors of course, including: improved kicking techniques, increasing experience, better training, improved equipment, and enthusiasm and support. I would stress that to be competing at high levels, all these things have to come together. Other factors for me also include staying healthy and uninjured.
This is how it affected me: Using Sprint 8s has been and continue to be an important part of my on-scooter training as well as my cross-training on a stationary bike. The Sprint 8s have been key for me when preparing for the European Scooter Championships in 2007, the U.S. records I set that year, and my results from the World Championships in 2008. I was surprised – using them had improved my speed and endurance speed compared to the fitness level I had at the Worlds in 2006 when I won my first veterans championships.
It’s possible for more improvements yet, I think, even as I’m nearing 60 years old. My best recommendation for others would be to keep searching for things that work for you. This is one of the workouts that makes a big difference for me and I have a lot of enthusiasm for it. Who knows what any of us are capable of until we try something new to improve. This also seems to be consistent with any of us trying a footbike for the first time!
http://www.readysetgofitness.com/
http://outside.away.com/outside/bodywork/200604/high-intensity-training-1.html
http://outside.away.com/outside/bodywork/200604/high-intensity-training-2.htm
One evening a couple of weeks ago I went to a demo of workout equipment (treadmill, elliptical trainer, recumbent and upright bikes) that feature the Sprint 8 training protocol. The author of the book, Phil Campbell, was gracious and knowledgeable. He presented the program and led us through a Sprint 8 on the equipment. I was on one of the upright bikes and sprinted myself into an anaerobic haze.
As it turns out, maybe I did the workout a little too intensely! I always do the Sprint 8s at full blast on the scooter and I was used to riding an occasional spinning class, going extremely hard on every sprint. Apparently, the Sprint 8s are supposed to be done a little bit differently than how I’ve been doing them. I’ve learned how to increase the intensity through the workout so that one can withstand doing these sprint workout every other day.
This workout can also be worked into other training and fitness schedules if you would want. As usual for athletes and coaches, the combinations of training and how they relate to fitness are both science and art form.
So at the end of the demo evening, I completed a total of 7 all-out sprints. I chose to stop at seven before I went too deep and I couldn’t walk out the door under my own power. Now it’s time for me to finish reading the book, then re-think and adjust how I do some of the workouts. Also as a general rule, it’s good to start out with the Sprint 4 version when starting a new cycle of sprints during the training calendar. This makes sense for beginners and experienced exercisers.
I hope using this information will help you to improve your fitness, health, and scooter experience.






