I have decided to start writing a monthly update blog post on here for Foxwood Personal Training in York. I figured it may be of interest to some people to have a round up of everything that is going on. This first one is more of a ‘recent’ round up, rather than strictly what has been going on in May.
So first things first, as many of you know, I started a Professional Doctorate in Strength and Conditioning (with St Mary’s University) in October. The format of the Doctorate is taught modules for the first two years followed by the research component for the following three years. The final three years of research is exactly the same format as a regular PhD. However, the big advantage of this professional doctorate format is that I will be able to hit the ground running when the research component begins.
During this first two years, I am already working on my research ideas and putting together a research proposal for the final three years. It has been very challenging so far. Attempting to combine doctoral level study with running a business and being a new Dad is tough going. But that is part of the point, a PhD is supposed to test your limits.
PhD Research
The structure of the first module on ‘Advanced Methods of Training’ has been excellent. I have actually found it very useful for developing my thoughts around the area in which I will be focusing my research in the final three years. I am now dialled in on Isometric Strength Training for Middle and Long Distance Runners, as the area of focus for my PhD research. This is a very exciting (to me at least!) area to be focusing on. Isometric Strength Training is quite a hot topic at the moment. Danny Lum is producing a lot of great research on isometrics at his lab in Singapore. Coaches such as Alex Natera are also providing some great ideas within this space. But there is very little actual research that has been done on Isometric Strength Training in endurance runners. This means there is a lot of scope to really develop the knowledge base in this area. I can’t wait to get going with some of the studies I am planning!
Heslington Mile, York – Sponsored by Foxwood Personal Training
Foxwood Personal Training recently sponsored the Heslington Mile. This race is put on by City of York Athletics Club and is in its second year of running. We were hoping for a sub-4 minute mile in this years race – as last years winner, Tommy Shaw, was coming into the race in fantastic shape. Unfortunately, the weather was a little damp and cold, so not conducive to the fastest possible times. Tommy put in a great effort though, and won convincingly in 4:07.33. Maybe next year we will see a sub-4 minute mile in York!
Foxwood Personal Training Race Results
We have already had some excellent race results from Foxwood Personal Training clients so far this year. Here are some of the highlights:
- In January, Simon Hampson took over a minute off his half marathon PB at the Brass Monkey Half Marathon. On the same weekend, Matt Kiddle took one minute of his 10Km PB!
- Continuing his good form, Matt Kiddle achieved a race win at the Newcastle Winter Warmer Half Marathon.
- In February, Karen Wright and Julie Woodcock raced the Barcelona Half Marathon. Remarkably, they both crossed the line together in 1:43.18 – big new PB’s for both of them!
- Also in February, Simon Hampson and Matt Kiddle ran in the Seville Marathon. Simon improved his PB by four minutes, clocking 2:46. Matt improved his PB by 2 minutes, clocking 2:56.
- In April, Karen Wright managed to run a PB at the London Marathon, despite brutally hot weather conditions.
- From April onwards, Adam Bateman has been on a rampage of PB’s from 1500m up to 10km. Adam smashed through the 4 minute barrier for 1500m for the first time ever, running a huge PB of 3:56! He also race at the Heslington Mile, placing second in a new mile PB.
Gym Records
It hasn’t just been the runners achieving big things this year. Ever since I opened Egerton’s Garage Gym in 2020, I have kept a gym records board. This creates a nice amount of friendly rivalry between clients in the gym. Five years in, ad many of the records are now very hard to beat. However, two new people have been added to the gym records board already this year. Emma Woolfrey and Liam Spence are now amongst some of the esteemed names on the gym records board. For Emma, it has been the reward of over a year of consistently attending personal training sessions. For Liam, it has been around 3.5 years now. But he has come so far in that time. When Liam first started having sessions, he had been diagnosed with Long Covid and he was very limited in what he could manage in a session. His ability to tolerate the training is now so much better and he is on the gym records board for two different lifts!
Resources
That’s everything for the first of the monthly updates. For anyone that’s interested, I have previously written about the Professional Doctorate in Strength and Conditioning here:
St Mary’s PhD in Strength and Conditioning
Further information on the programme is also available here: