Member's News
No.44
May 2005
 
    

National Association for Sports, Health and Fitness – Report on Marathon Coaching Clinic
Diwakar Lal Amatya, Nepal


In Marathon and long distance running events, various countries are striving for achieving better performance results. Modern sports science and technology, financial incentives for the marathon runners, and growing popularity of these road running events new talented athletes are emerging every year and gradually improving the standard of the events.
At the same time, it has been observed that the performances of Nepalese marathon runner's at the national and international level competitions are not promising in comparison to the runners of other South Asian countries. In spite of the efforts made to improve the performance standard, very little success has so far been achieved in this regard. Lack of marathon training and coaching know-how and scientific knowledge amongst the coaches and marathon runners seems to be the main drawback for its development. It is also noteworthy that the concerning associations and other sports authorities do not have clear visions for the development of marathons and long distance running in Nepal.
Taking this all into consideration, the National Association for Sports Health and Fitness thought to conduct the three day marathon coaching clinic for the coaches, physical education teachers/students, sports teachers and the runners giving the clinic's title as "Modern Technology of Marathon Training". This coaching clinic was organized to mark the "International Sports and Physical Education Year-2005" called by UN & ICSSPE.
Topics for the Course were as follows:
  1. Continuous training for Marathon and Long Distance runners
  2. Interval training for Marathon and Long Distance runners
  3. Glycogen loading (carbohydrate loading for marathon)
  4. Modern Fartlek for marathon and long distance running
  5. Body composition and its importance for Long Distance Runners
  6. Physiological characteristics of Marathon runners
  7. Nutrition for Marathon & Long Distance runners
  8. Recuperation (Rest) needed for Marathon runners
  9. Prediction for Marathon Runners time
  10. Is it good for children to do Marathon Training? (Scientific drawbacks)
  11. Causes of overload, symptoms and remedies
 
The coaching clinic was conducted from 27-29 March, 2005 at Galaxy Public School, Gyaneshwor- Kathmandu. The clinic was successful with 43 participant's from 4 local track and field clubs, physical education students/teachers from University and school, Coaches from Mahendra Police Club and National Sports council.

 

All the lectures were delivered by Diwakar Lal Amatya-MSC, Athletics and Sports Science and the president of NASHF. The coaching clinic was reported by most of the daily newspapers and one of them as follows:

The Kathmandu Post
Wednesday, March 29 (PR): - A three day coaching course on modern technology of marathon training concluded today. The training organised by National Association for Sports Health and Fitness which was participated by 43 coaches, physical education teaches/students and schools. The president of Association said that the training was organised to inform Nepali coaches and players on the changing international norms of modern marathon. President of Nepal Amateur Veteran Athlete Committee Mr. Ram Krishna Verma gave away the certificates to the participants. On the same day 23 successful trainees of Kinanthropometry Level "1" and "2" were also awarded ISAK certificates by President of NASHF Mr. Diwakar Lal Amatya.
Here are some of the comments and suggestion made by the participants:
1. Pradeep Maharjan (Headmaster-Mangal Higher Secondary School/Phy. Edu. Lecturer):
Students in our University and Campuses go through the theoretical lessons and practical sessions. Although marathon is not the part of degree program but many of the topics are included in this clinic are closely related with scientific research findings. After joining the clinic, I came to realize that the University should take an initiative to introduce this kind of practical and appropriate approach to make our academic system more practical oriented and which will make the students more competitive in their working field in future.
2. Lila Kumar Shrestha -Athletic Coach (Nepal Police Force):
I’m very much excited that the knowledge I got from this clinic will be valuable in my coaching career for our marathon runners. The knowledge I got from this is very useful and practical oriented. Especially as all the handouts were given in Nepali language and lots of the material and tips on coaching marathon are excellent with scientific research findings.

Mr. Diwakar Lal Amatya
President - National Association for Sports Health & Fitness
16/1 Nakabahil, Lalitpur, Nepal.
Email: dlamatya@ntc.net.np




http://www.icsspe.org/portal/bulletin-may2005.htm