Back in 1969, George Harrison (penned the lyrics to the title Here Comes The Sun for The Beatles famous Abbey Road album) captured a feeling every runner knows—the sheer relief and optimism that comes with brighter days and fresh starts. As winter miles fade and spring arrives, there’s no better time to reset, refocus, and reignite your love for running.
This May (12th-16th), why not experience that same sense of renewal by joining us in Portugal for the New Levels Coaching Warm Weather Training Camp?
The gains
The benefits of warm weather training are multiple. Here’s just a handful of them.
- Heat acclimatization, there are physiological gains in terms of enhanced cardiovascular capacities.
- Muscles will be more pliable. you will be able to do the kinds of speed endurance and speed work which may well not have been possible over the course of the long, dark, wet and windy winter months due to the enhanced risk of injury.
- Vitamin D boost, which can improve muscular strength, which is vital.
Aside for the physiological, there are more social and psychological gains to be had in terms of both being part of a group training environment and the sheer fact you have a dedicated and concentrated period of time on your hands to put running and not work or family as that number one priority in your life for just a few days before returning home, recharged and refreshed and ready to scale the mountain peak of your next running challenge.
Camp specifics
As well as the benefits above, there are some very specific gains you will look like the ‘bees knees’ in your camp kit and if you don’t believe us just wait till you get back home and have the pleasure of unpicking the stunning action shots that we will take of you flying past the breathtakingly scenic landscape which surrounds the AP Victoria Sports and Beach in the Algarve.
One to one Coaching
You will get the benefit of a full coach lead programme giving you invaluable track and roadside one to one support with the New Levels Coaching team.
Biokinetics
The fact that we will be operating across multi-surfaces be in road, grass and track is excellent in terms of the biokinetic stimulus it will give to your kinetic chaining as your feet and lower limbs adjust to the demands of each respective surface on which you operate. Note that work on grass involves nothing less than a purpose built cross country course, so as you close your eyes momentarily you may be forgiven for thinking you are a competitor in the World Cross!
Microdosing
You will have the opportunity to microdose and top up your attention to strength and conditioning through our live masterclasses. Our running technique masterclass will give you the opportunity to work on your biomechanics and running efficiency as you work your alactic stop-start energy system to improve your cadence and stride length through plyometrically based work.
Social Miles, Stronger Ties
Easy-paced runs aren’t just great for building your aerobic base—they’re the perfect way to connect with fellow runners. Expect plenty of chat, laughs, and good vibes, plus team-based activities designed to bring everyone together. Training hard is important, but so is having fun and making lasting memories along the way!
Rest and Recovery
Running camps can and should not be all about hard work, work and more work as rest and recovery are paramount in terms of you being able to allow the training effect from our carefully designed sessions to take effect. This is the time when attention to stretching and flexibility kicks in and so-called ‘down time’ can and will be used productively with the option of attending coaching workshops which deal with both matters of the physiological like nutrition and physical, for example with goal setting.
This leaves us with the following questions for self-reflection:
- What do I hope to gain physiologically, psychologically and socially from attendance at our warm weather training camp?
- Why might I benefit from a short but dedicated block of time in my life where running can be placed at the very centre of my existence and top of my list of priorities?
- How might my running be improved not just from an online schedule or one virtually situated coach but from a team of geographically based coaches who are on hand to observe and make appropriate interventions with my every athletic move?
Thank you to Matt Long who put this article together. Matt is an NLC coach who has worked on a variety of training camps including two as an England Team Coach in the build up for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
