I had such great intentions to be writing every night from Phoenix where I was attending a Mentorship Program through the Athlete’s Performance Center, one of the most famous and highly regarded training facilities and programs in North America and Europe. It was their Rehabilittion Program not their Performance Program so I was at times out of my comfort zone during our clinic sessions sitting in the middle of many athletic therapists, and physiotherapists. I ventured out into unknown territory again continuing my self development in the technical and injury preventative area for endurance sports. As part of the rehab program though we also took in some performance sessions, run development, plyometrics, strength training and active isolated stretching to name a few. This was fun and content I have already stated to incorporate with the Aerobic Power athletes.

The most unique thing about the Athletes Performance Center is their seamlessly integrated program. Brilliant yet very hard to duplicate. Within their 35,000 foot facility there are not any closed off areas or rooms outside of the massage rooms. The therapy area overlooks the training area, the metabolic testing areas also overlook the main training area. When required, the athlete’s session would start with the therapist who would then hand off to the strength coach or visa versa. In between the gym and the locker rooms are the cold and hot tubs for regeneration and recovery, an area highly stressed by all the staff. It’s not just bells and whistles though. Starting with the creator of the method “Core Performance” and programming philosophies, Mark Verstegan all the way down to their new class of interns is such a well educated and experienced group of professionals. I learned almost as much from just approaching them on the floor in the middle of their sessions as I did from the planned lessons. .

My goal has never been to take the role of physios, chiropractors etc, I am doing all this rehabilitive learning to provide a quicker intervention when aches begin but hopefully have not reached a full “injury status”

I also look forward to incorporating a more methodical approach to my movement evaluations that will then provide a better format in making defficiencies clearer for clients and by attaining quantitative data, a better comparison table for future re tests.