2007 Elite High Altitude Training Camp
Olympic Training Center
Colorado Springs, CO
August 19-25, 2007

Submitted by Bill Ball.  Photos by Dan Zeek.

On August 19, 2007 I had the great fortune to head a group of athletes that traveled to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During this week- long trip, USA Swimming made several great presentations to the group on such topics as substance abuse and awareness, goal setting and working towards those goals, warm-up and recovery, as well as proper starts.

As for the training, the group had a total of 12 workouts, three in the outdoor short course yard pool and 9 in the long course pool. Of the 9 L.C. workouts, two were spent video taping, working on the start techniques we learned in the USA Swimming presentation and each athlete had the opportunity to be towed. The remaining 7 L.C. workouts were very aerobic in nature and averaged 6200 meters.  The three short course workouts had a little more intensity and averaged 7000 yards.

The accommodations at the training center were wonderful. The dorms have been greatly upgraded from the last time I went with a group of CT athletes, and as always the food was fantastic.

The entire trip was not all work and no fun, we did have a chance to take the athletes on the cog rail up to Pikes Peak and also on a 2 hour horseback riding trip through the Garden of the Gods, a great experience for ALL!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the coaches (Dan Zeek, Chuck Elrick, and Sue Lecza) for all their help, and also the Board of Directors of CT Swimming for supporting this trip.

Lastly, I know all the athletes, coaches and CSI Board of Directors are very thankful to Jen Lyman for all of her hard work and commitment in assuring this trip be a success.

 The athletes attending the camp were: