Lockdown training keeps Lois on toes Home gym work and grass sessions for sprinter
The coronavirus shutdown arrived at a frustrating time for Perthshire sprinter Lois Garland.
But the former St John’s Academy student is more determined than ever to continue her development when racing returns.
Lois (18) was picking up great speed in the early part of the year and two silvers at the Scottish U20 Championships in late February/early March lifted spirits further.
Later that month, however, the competition calendar and track training sessions were suspended in an attempt to halt the spread of the pandemic.
Despite not being able to hit the track, Lois and coach Alan Erickson formulated a home-training programme to maintain levels through the lockdown.
“It’s been different,” said Lois, who lives in Aberdalgie.
“We have had programmes written for us and I’ve been following that.
“I’ve also set up a wee gym in my garage so I can keep up with my weights and training at the same time.
“It’s not the same not being on the track, but you are still able to keep up training with your own motivation. I’ve been out on the Inch and some hills by my house as well.
“Everything was all working together - training really hard, having my coach and my parents at all the competitions.
“We were planning on going down south for the English champs and maybe progressing to qualify for a British champs.
“I think some competitions are being rescheduled, so I will aim to do those.
“It all makes me just want to get back on the track and running. I was aiming to take more off my outdoor time and progress.
“It is a bit frustrating but I need to think there is always next year as well.”
Perth Strathtay Harrier Lois, who would love to compete on the grandest stage of all one day, has been working with coach Alan for the past four years now.
Alan has not let the lockdown stop him from coaching and providing valuable advice to Lois and his group of sprinters.
“We were determined as a squad to keep things going safely under the relevant restrictions and guidance,” he explained to the PA.
“We couldn’t just stop training - we had the athletes’ health and wellbeing to think about also.
“So we turned the exercise allowance and I guess in some circumstances, the school PE requirements, into our athletic development and sprint training sessions.
“From a coaching perspective you had to think outside the box and adapt to a new way of communication and programme design.
“We implemented weekly remote training programmes, weekly FaceTime calls for review and planning, video demonstrations of sessions and exercises were created.
“I also used some of the time to educate the athletes in a bit more of the theory behind sprinting.
“Home garages have been turned into gyms, gardens have been used as tracks and jumping pits, and house walls have been used as throwing walls. A big thank you has to go to the parents who have facilitated my sessions for the athletes.”
As the country moves through the route map out of lockdown, a return to the track edges closer.
Alan said: “Over the last few weeks, with certain restrictions being lifted and as per the relevant guidance, we have started to resume some face to face coaching.
“We have the risk assessments in place for doing this and are using multiple open public spaces in and around Perth. Both coaches and athletes can’t wait for the Perth track to open - hopefully it won’t be too long now.”