I.V. Astrakhantseva¹
Dr.Hab., Associate Professor A.V. Nazarenko¹
Dr.Hab., Professor L.D. Nazarenko^1
1Ulyanovsk State Pedagogical University named after I.N. Ulyanov, Ulyanovsk

Keywords: training process, sprinters, environmental path, educational experiment.

Background. Progress in physical fitness largely depends on individual mental, educational, genetic and physiological factors and success of the focused efforts to improve the individual technical skills taking full advantage of modern athletic systems with the training tools being prudently combined and customized to individual athletic qualities and abilities. Modern track run sports give a growing priority to mental and educational factors, and this is the reason why the training systems are designed to offer not only effective preparatory, conditioning and precompetitive training but also facilitating training conditions for the individual kinesiological resource to be fully mobilized. Requirements to the individual qualities and fitness aspects are largely dictated by the event specifics. In sprint events, for instance, a special emphasis is made on the speed-strength qualities; in middle-distance races higher priority is given to speed endurance; and in long-distance events and marathons endurance is in top priority as a core quality for success [1, 2]. Individual endurance rate in its turn is largely determined by the individual fitness level and movement coordination and control qualities. It should also be noted that the CNS controls of the vegetative functions may be boosted by positive mental and emotional mindsets. Therefore, special attention shall be given to the training systems and conditions being reasonably diversified to vary the training process goals; and this may be easily achieved by trainings in natural environments [3, 5].

Objective of the study was to develop and test benefits of a training model designed with application of natural environments i.e. the so-called ‘environmental path’.

Methods and structure of the study. Sensor systems functionality is pivotal for any sporting activity on the whole and physical performance quality in particular. Individual competitive accomplishments are often determined by the competitive mental and emotional mindsets driven by the overall individual emotionality and aesthetics ability. Natural environments with their impressive and unique light and colour effects and beautiful landscapes gradually and positively contribute to aesthetic perceptions, spiritual growth and mental uplift on a subconscious level, with the trainees developing a feel of eternal life flow in nature and own dependence on and contribution to the natural environment and living processes [4].

The ‘environmental path’ applying training model was designed to include the following training tools: special race exercises in widely variable natural environments and conditions with the uphill runs on the 10 to 30 degree slopes; downhill runs variable in pace, push-up strength and intensity. The training system was individualized for every runner, with the race track being marked so as to ensure the run stride and pace being duly controlled by the athlete. It should be noted that the sprint speed is largely determined by the push-off strength, and this was the reason why a special emphasis in the individual training systems was made on the push-off strength control and development practices. A wide range of training conditions and settings was applied in the speed- and push-off-strength-building training components to help the athletes develop high muscular sensitivity with a special contribution from the relevant sensor systems.

Practical benefits of the new ‘environmental path’ applying training model were tested by an educational experiment. Subject to the experiment were 17-21 year-old athletes (n=24) qualified Class I Athletes and Candidate Masters of Sports split up into Experimental Group (EG) and Reference Group (RG) of 12 people each. The pre-experimental physical fitness was rated by the following tests: 30m high-start sprint test; 100/150m sprint tests; standing long jump test; and right- and left-arm shot put (4kg) tests. The pre-experimental physical fitness rating tests did not show any significant differences in the EG versus RG fitness rates (р>0.05).

Furthermore, the pre-experimental special racing fitness was rated by the following tests: 100/200/400/600/800m run tests; standing long jumps (five attempts); and standing long jumps (ten attempts). The pre-experimental special fitness rating tests did not show any significant differences in the EG versus RG fitness rates (р>0.05).

Training process in the RG was designed as required by the common training system approved and recommended by the Russian Track and Field Sports Federation. The EG training was dominated by the new ‘environmental path’ applying training model of our own design with the path laid in an unfrequented forest zone. The 2km environmental path was laid in a 5m-wide forest cutting line with the race tracks cleaned of the surface imperfections, grass trimmed, with each 200m standard race track marked with white-and-red flags.

Prior to each training session, the EG athletes were to self-rate their mental/ emotional fitness on a 5-point scale, with the top/ high/ above average/ average/ below average/ and low fitness scored by 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points, respectively. The self-rating points were fixed in the individual logbooks and in the coach’s logbook. The experimental process monitoring showed the EG physical activity in the forest racing practices being notably higher than usual, with every athlete highly appreciating clean air, green landscape, unusual and pleasant silence and many others not always realizable subconscious factors of positive influence on the training mood and working ability. The physical activity benchmarking analysis showed the overall performance rates in the city conditions being notably lower than on the ‘environmental path’ in the training sessions of equal scopes, muscular loads and intensities.

Having analysed variations of the mental/ emotional fitness rates, we found those rates in the forest trainings averaging 4.0-4.5 points at the beginning and improving to 4.5-5 points at the end of each training session. This positive effect was explained by the natural factors and spiritual uplift driven by the natural beauty of the surrounding natural landscapes, clean air and unusual emotional boost. Prior to and after the indoor training sessions, the athletes self-rated their mental/ emotional fitness at 3.0-3.5 and 3.5-4.0 points, respectively. It may be assumed that the indoor trainings in city environments are somewhat suppressing for the mental/ emotional statuses and may be uplifted only by extra volitional efforts required to fulfil the training tasks and, hence, improve the mental/ emotional status by the feel of accomplishment. The same set of test exercises was applied to rate the physical and special fitness after the experiment.

Study results and discussion. The post-experimental test rates were indicative of some progress both in the EG and RG, with the EG progress rates being significantly higher versus the RG. Thus in the pre-experimental versus post-experimental 30m high-start sprint test the RG showed progress from 4.50±0.15s to 4.41±0.13s (р>0.05) versus the EG progress from 4.51±0.17s to 4.18±0.11s (р>0.05). In the pre-experimental versus post-experimental 100m high-start sprint test, the RG showed progress from 11.69±0.15s to 11.39±0.16s (р>0.05) versus the EG progress from 11.67±0.19s to 10.98±0.13s (р>0.05). Similar progress rates were achieved by the EG in all other tests.

Special racing fitness was also tested to improve in both of the groups with the EG still showing higher progress in every test. Thus, in the pre-experimental versus post-experimental 200m sprint tests the RG showed progress from 24.18±0.18s to 23.95±0.15s (р>0.05) versus the EG progress from 24.20±0.14s to 23.25±0.16s (р>0,05). In the pre-experimental versus post-experimental 400m race tests, the RG showed progress from 51.97±0.24s to 51.30±0.20s (р>0.05) versus the EG progress from 51.94±0.23s to 50.22±0.20s (р>0.05). Similar progress rates were achieved by the EG in all other tests.

Conclusion. The study data and analyses showed high benefits of trainings in the natural environment with its powerful health-improvement and emotional uplift effects facilitating the individual physical and mental resources being fully mobilized for progress in the training and competitive process. The educational experiment demonstrated practical benefits of the new ‘environmental path’ applying training model that may be recommended for application in the runners’ training systems.

References

1. Anisimova E.A., Kozlovskiy M.A. Povyshenie sportivnogo masterstva begunov na korotkie distantsii [Sprint running skills mastering process in elite athletes]. Teoriya i praktikafiz. kultury, 2010, no. 9, pp. 76-78.
2. Bal'sevich V.K. Ontokineziologiya cheloveka [Human Ontokineziology].Moscow: Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury i sporta publ., 2000, 275 p.
3. Kryazhev V.D. Sovershenstvovanie begovykh dvizheniy [Running movements mastering process]. Moscow: VNIIFK publ., 2002,191 p.
4. Nazarenko L.D. Estetika fizicheskikh uprazhneniy [Aesthetics of physicale xercises]. Moscow: Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury i sporta publ., 2004, 249 p.

Corresponding author: fizkult@teoriya.ru

Abstract

The article considers a new athletic training model taking full advantage of the natural factors to effectively mobilise physical and mental resources. Unaltered natural environments are known to be of powerful health improvement effects on the individual biological and social aspects and mechanisms thereby facilitating individual spiritual, ethical and aesthetic development processes. Trainings in natural environments are known to improve mental and emotional statuses; contribute to training and competitive performance efficiency; and increase tolerance to fatigue. ‘Environmental/ forest paths’ applied in the training process help the trainees benefit from the natural environments and facilitate their competitive progress by positive effects on the mental and emotional fitness. The educational experiment under the study demonstrated practical benefits of the ‘environmental path’ training components in the training systems that are still largely underestimated although quite productive in the athletic reserve capacity building and training process diversification aspects as they effectively offset the monotony of indoor trainings.