We recognize the fact that each skater has their own strengths and weaknesses. Our program is designed to allow each skater to pinpoint their strengths and weaknesses and leverage them to get fit. Overall fitness is not all or nothing, on or off. It's a spectrum - at one extreme are the skaters who are very good at one thing, in the middle are skaters who are average in all the components, and at the other extreme are skaters with the most to gain. As with any sport, as a skater achieves the majority of improvements that are possible within the sport of speed skating, the potential for continued advancement is diminished. Those with the least potential for improvement are in fact the most elite skaters. This is because elite skaters have already pushed their body to the furthest reaches of what's possible. However, in the arena of the elite skater where everyone is at the top end of the range, if a skater is able to make even a 1% improvement, that may spell the difference between winning a race and coming in 10th.  How well a skater performs depends on how optimally their body operates and that is determined at the most basic level by the function of every cell in their body.

We believe it is crucial that you test yourself because a person's perception of his or her fitness level is not always accurate. Our training philosophy prioritizes overall fitness as the first prerequisite in developing a skater's overall proficiency. Without the necessary level of fitness, a skater will be unable to achieve the goals they may aspire to (both physically and mentally).

Along the way, we remind our skaters that any improvement is improvement, and that fitness isn't always a dramatic achievement. On the other hand, skaters may also see improvement faster that they expected - these factors rely upon your particular genetic predisposition as well as how hard you apply yourself. All skaters fall somewhere on the spectrum, but everyone is on the spectrum. No matter what their level was when they began, they are all better now!

OVERALL 90-DAY RESULTS

The overall improvement scores combined the average of all 4 categories (Upper body, lower body, core & speed/endurance) which consisted of 9 benchmarked events. The C2C program is designed to establish a measurable starting point for each skater, then to have that skater benchmark test every 30 days while following the training routines. The program emphasizes "above average" overall fitness as a prerequisite before beginning sport-specific training.

CORE STRENGTH RESULTS

The core strength scores were taken from the 90-day benchmark scores. These scores were compared against the initial day-1 assessment test scores. Many of the skaters achieved dramatic "breakthrough" scores on certain events: James Legier - 708 nonstop situps Steven Vendryes - 601 nonstop situps Devin Kreinbring - 300 nonstop situps Maria Arango - 312 nonstop situps Randall McCamish - Leglift hold (skater must hold legs straight out in front of them 6 inches off the ground) 12 minutes, 12 seconds

UPPER BODY RESULTS

The upper body strength scores were taken from the 90-day benchmark scores. These scores were compared against the initial day-1 assessment test scores. It's interesting to note that most skaters had relatively weak upper bodies (initially). Upper body strength goes hand-in-hand with core strength in developing an efficient arm swing, balance and coordination.

LOWER BODY RESULTS

The lower body strength scores were taken from the 90-day benchmark scores. These scores were compared against the initial day-1 assessment test scores. In the beginning, skaters were struggling to maintain wall time for more than 1-3 minutes. Numerous breakthroughs occurred by the end of the 90 days. Wall-Time Breakthroughs: Makayla Manos - 1hr, 20min nonstop Another 4 skaters with more than 1 hour nonstop wall time: Maria Arango James Legier Jacob Legier Stephen Vendryes

ENDURANCE - SPEED RESULTS

The endurance-speed scores were taken from an average of all three 30-day benchmark scores. These scores were compared against the initial day-1 assessment test scores. The last 90-day benchmark test was especially difficult as the skaters tested in 40 degree weather with 15-25mph winds. Endurance/speed WAS NOT a focus during the 90-day C2C base training. While all skaters did improve, it was not expected as the training was designed to improve overall strength and fitness levels and was not designed to concentrate on sport-specific speed and endurance training. That being said, these results prove the theory that better overall fitness levels = better endurance and faster times. Those skaters who have graduated from this first cycle will enter an advanced training phase that will concentrate on greater leg strength and power as well as sport-specific speed and endurance training.

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