"Full-time" athletic efforts vs. part-time jobs

[Army Fencer]

I'm going to break this down, based on what I think you're trying to ask me.

What is your current training schedule?

My current schedule is somewhat in flux because I injured myself the first few weeks I was here at the OTC (Olympic Training Center).

Currently, I train only about 1.5 hours a day for five days out of the week. I've also been spending about 2 hours a day in rehab (6 days a week), if you want to count that.

When I'm back to being well, I plan to fence two practice a day four days a week and one additional practice on Saturday. I'll also have cross training between those practices that will include swimming and running. I'll spend roughly 6 hours a day on training.

The majority of the fencers here at the OTC are Pentathletes. They are good to fence with, but I also try to fence "real" fencers--hence the two practices a day. I'll travel to the US Air Force Academy to train with their fencers twice a week (45 minutes each way), and I'll travel to Denver to fence there twice a week as well (1.5 hours each way). On these days, my fencing or travel to fencing will occupy 8-9 hours a day.

Do you feel you are improving with this training schedule?

I do, but I think that I will improve more once we have a committed coach for fencing. Currently, Janusz Peciak, the Pentathlon coach, is my primary coach. Quite obviously, he has other obligations outside teaching me to fence.

Also, I think that if my training were localized to one spot, I would improve faster and would have more time. This isn't a practical wish for me here in Colorado at this point, but it may be practical after the program grows a little more. It is definitely practical in NYC.

Given this schedule and your improvement, do you think you could hold down a part time job?

If I gave up my girlfriend, my internet time, and opportunities to go to a local hospital (which would probably mean giving up medical school completely), I could probably keep a four hour a day job. They would have to be very liberal with my time, though. I plan to go to the Middle East and Europe this season.

I don't think that a part time job would be sufficient to pay for all my fencing expenses, though. With travel (both to practices and to World Cups), with equipment costs (I go through blades like crazy), and with lessons, it gets very expensive, very quickly.

Also, I think it would be difficult to keep on a healthy diet. I'm getting my meals for free at the OTC, but I currently have time to make good, healthy meals for myself. If I didn't, it might be McDonald's and Burger King (yuck).

Do you think it would be viable for you to sacrifice some/any of your training time in order to hold down a part time job, and still maintain an approximate level of conditioning and ability?

Perhaps. I wouldn't want to do that thought because I feel like I have a lot to make up. I'm 24 and only now breaking into the upper tiers of national fencing. If I want to be successful at a higher level, I feel I have to commit a much greater deal of time than, say, our Athens Olympians.

If I were already a successful fencer, and all my trainer were localized to one place, I think it would be easier for me to say, "yes, I could sacrifice training time to have a part time job and succeed at the international level."

That said, eating dinner at the OTC the other night, I met with a wrestler who works for Home Depot. Home Depot sponsors him and gives him a liberal part time job that allows him time to train and compete. If you were to get a part time job/sponsorship like this individual, it be possible to make ends meet.

Did I cover all your questions?

[glowstix]

I do, but I think that I will improve more once we have a committed coach for fencing. Currently, Janusz Peciak, the Pentathlon coach, is my primary coach. Quite obviously, he has other obligations outside teaching me to fence.

how do you transition from one coach to another?? have you experienced any conflicts in teaching philosophy/techniques/etc??

i'm curious to the type of coaching you guys get over there at that level.

[Army Fencer]

how do you transition from one coach to another?? have you experienced any conflicts in teaching philosophy/techniques/etc??

i'm curious to the type of coaching you guys get over there at that level.

I was really, really lucky. My coach back in DC (also a Janusz) knows and has a good relation with my current coach. Also, they're both Polish, so what they teach and how they teach are really similar. They talk to each other, too, to help figure out ways to teach me stuff.

There are some differences, though. Janusz Peciak requires far more precision, though the actions are far simplier--it's part of being a Pentathlon coach, I believe. There's a lot more work on distance and timing. Also, my old Janusz would make his students figure out how to solve a problem, a technique that worked really well for me. I don't get that as much here. It's a lot more directed: you must do this, you must do that, you're doing this wrong, etc.

I find it encouraging that I have a lot to work on, though. If I'm at my current level after having mediocre technique, I'm going to be awesome with refinement!

When I go back to DC, I still get lessons.

i'm curious to the type of coaching you guys get over there at that level.

That's a curious statement to me. I don't think I'm elite yet, despite the fact that I have an excellent sponsorship. I only have one good result and I'm not even in the top 16 right now (granted, that ought to change after this next weekend).

[glowstix]

cool stuff..

[JEC]

I think I will be much better prepared for medicine after this experience for precisely the reasons you suggest. That's one of the reasons I didn't feel too terrible about leaving, despite the inherent risk involved with the decision and the fact that I was leaving my friends.

I'm doing my best to prevent cluelessness, but I know it goes with the territory.

Where are you going for med school? UCHSC? If you want to talk about career issues in medicine, I will be in Pittsburgh. and I'm currently in a professional conference at DC.


http://www.texasepilepsy.net
http://pharmacology.uthscsa.edu/faculty/Cavazos.html

[Jedi Knight]

It is possible to work full time (40 – 50 hrs a week) and compete at the highest level (Sr. World Cups). There are numerous examples of people doing this domestically in our sport. Keeth Smart is probably the most famous example he was given a leave of absence of only 6 months, but he competed on all of the World Championship Teams from 2001 – 2003 while balancing working full-time. I know that Erinn Smart, Herby Raynaud, & Tim Morehouse also balanced working full-time with competing internationally during the entire last quadrennial. In any event, I think it all has to do with how much of a sacrifice the athlete wants to make to their personal life, and whether they are willing to work longer hours when they are home to offset taking the time off for competitions. I remember Tim, Herby, & Keeth telling me that they used all of their vacation and sick days for competitions. They generally would arrive at practice after 6pm and leave around 9pm 4 – 5x a week, and they practiced on Saturdays. So it can be done it is just a matter of having an understanding supervisor and mastering the art of Time Management.

[Army Fencer]

Where are you going for med school? UCHSC? If you want to talk about career issues in medicine, I will be in Pittsburgh. and I'm currently in a professional conference at DC.


http://www.texasepilepsy.net
http://pharmacology.uthscsa.edu/faculty/Cavazos.html

Yes, I was going to USUHS.

[Sciurus-Rex]

Oy, private life is another factor entirely -- I feel guilty just leaving my dog at home for an extra hour of practice during the evening; thank goodness I don't have children.

Let's face it, if you want to be really really good, you have to give up something to make time. Wife, friends, hobbies, money, job ...

[JEC]

Yes, I was going to USUHS.

I assume UCHSC. I was a faculty member at the medical school from summer 1997 to winter 2000.

[fencer08]

It is possible to work full time (40 – 50 hrs a week) and compete at the highest level (Sr. World Cups). There are numerous examples of people doing this domestically in our sport. Keeth Smart is probably the most famous example he was given a leave of absence of only 6 months, but he competed on all of the World Championship Teams from 2001 – 2003 while balancing working full-time. I know that Erinn Smart, Herby Raynaud, & Tim Morehouse also balanced working full-time with competing internationally during the entire last quadrennial. In any event, I think it all has to do with how much of a sacrifice the athlete wants to make to their personal life, and whether they are willing to work longer hours when they are home to offset taking the time off for competitions. I remember Tim, Herby, & Keeth telling me that they used all of their vacation and sick days for competitions. They generally would arrive at practice after 6pm and leave around 9pm 4 – 5x a week, and they practiced on Saturdays. So it can be done it is just a matter of having an understanding supervisor and mastering the art of Time Management.

I agree. You can do just about anything if you put your mind to it. I have been to two Olympics and maintained a top 16 World ranking while working full time. It's about being creative in finding a way to make it all work ... and not letting other people tell you it can't be done.

[Peach]

Let's face it, if you want to be really really good, you have to give up something to make time. Wife, friends, hobbies, money, job ...

. . . housework, entertaining, visits from your extended family . . . so it's not all bad

[sabreman]

I remember way back in 1970s that the USNA Marine foil guys (Freeman, Donofrio) were able to train full time but that was far from normal. Most people have had to keep a full time job down after college and train when they can find time. It is amazing we get results we do. I believe Ivan Lee is a school teacher.

[Mr Epee]

Day job officially becomes real job