Photo: St. Bonaventure Athletics
BY KYLE MAIER, SPORTS ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
Following yet another invitational where they broke numerous records, the St. Bonaventure men’s and women’s track teams compete at the Atlantic 10 Indoor Championships next week.
This signifies the approach of the outdoor season, which brings rule changes and environmental obstacles that St. Bonaventure athletes must model their training around.
“The major difference between indoor and outdoor track lies within the environments you race in,” says junior Colin McCarthy. “You know what to expect pretty much every race (in indoor track). Outdoors, you never know what kind of conditions you will get, especially out in Western New York. We could be racing in 40 degrees and then the next week have it be above 80 degrees.”
According to NCAA.com, athletes race on a 400-meter track in the outdoor season compared to a 200-meter indoor track.
Due to this, training becomes more intense, says freshman Joshua Lopez.
“Training is approached much more differently between indoor and outdoor,” said Lopez. “During the indoor season, you are getting a feel for the track again and easing your way back in. Once outdoor season approaches, training gets a bit more aggressive since you are really trying to peak and get faster.”
Sophomore Jimmy Hoffman describes the team’s shift in training as they look to go outdoors.
“Running outside is preferred,” said Hoffman. “When there isn’t a meet, then there are usually three track workouts, with three easy runs and a day off. When it is the week of a meet, then two track workouts are done back to back early in the week to leave room for recovery. Lifting is done two to three times a week but lightly before meets.”
Outdoor track also brings new events, such as the 4×100 meter relay, 1,500 meters, 3,000 meter steeplechase, and 10,000 meters, among others, according to NCAA.com.
Running the 10,000 meters this spring, McCarthy looks ahead to his preparation for the event.
“One event I do outdoors that isn’t available indoors is the 10k,” said McCarthy. “Usually prepping for that comes from doing higher volume on my intense workout days during the month gap between the end of outdoor and the start of indoor. Instead of six to seven kilometers of hard running in a workout, I will be doing nine to 10.”
Lopez hopes to do the 3,000-meter steeplechase in his tenure as a Bonnie.
“I do plan on exploring the 3000m steeplechase event during my time here at Bonaventure,” said Lopez. “Since the steeple involves lots of hurdling, the plan to prepare is doing lots of 400m repetitions over hurdles, learning how to get over hurdles efficiently and effectively to minimize energy output over the hurdles so I can stay consistent throughout the race.”
Less than two months away, sophomore Faith Caldwell sees the coming season as an opportunity.
“While both seasons are important to me, indoor is more about building a basis for outdoor track,” said Caldwell. “We spend all winter training hard, so the reward comes most once it’s time for outdoors.”
Following the A-10 Championships, the Bonnies will have roughly a month off until their outdoor season opener at the Colonial Relays in Williamsburg, Virginia.
