August 27 in Gijon - rationing of track practice
A championship organization representative was at the track this morning - handing out information on the set practice schedules that will start at the track tomorrow. The 'end of days' so-to-speak, of our almost free reign over the track this past fortnight. The road at Las Mestas on the other side of the city has opened and teams are practicing there - the Las Mestas venue, we're told, will not be subject to a practice schedule.
Routine Scene
Oceania bags and gear strewn about the infield
NZ Train
The track is another story. Each country (of the 50-ish Nations attending), in groups of about 8, are provided with 2x 1hour practices at the track each day. It didn't take Angie long to notice that some teams in the coming week have been allocated up to four sessions in the 'prime time' (hours when competition finals are scheduled), while others can get perhaps one or none altogether. Since tracks are notorious for having very different conditions and in turn needing different wheels for different times of day - while scheduling these sessions is undoubtedly a difficult job for organizers, this is hardly fair. The 'haves' and the 'have-nots' begins. Angie was told on the telephone repeatedly during 4 'Spanglish' phone calls today that the schedule could not be changed... I remain confident that if certain big name teams felt they weren't getting their 'fair share' of prime time practice, things would change pretty fast - we'll see what happens.
Coach Roy
Roy Dobbin oversees the pacy NZ warmup - his gestures to 'slow down' these past days have gone unheeded
Gathering Crowd
Not many, sure, but steadily more people drop by to watch teams practice each day
Growing Grandstands
Workmen have been erecting grandstands that are now, together with the roof, steadily enclosing the track on all sides
Kalon & Ronan
Kalon Dobbin follows Gijon local Ronan Sanchez in the warmup
Locals give chase
Every evening practice is shared with the local club... identifiable by flowing oversized shirts, the local skaters have 'taken it up a notch' since we arrived
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4 Comments:
How does 07 injured Kalon Dobbin looks? Is he aiming back for his lost titles in the pure sprint distances?? What do you think?
thanks
Great stuff Mick. It's good to have a set of eyes and ears over there right now. We don't arrive until Monday. Cheers Alex
Kalon looks good. For sure with a lot of eyes on him this year - as always - but this time looking for changes in his approach and any hint of the 2007 injury he suffered in the leadup to Cali Worlds that saw him tear his groin off the 300m start. He's been training here more than 2 weeks now, getting around the track the fastest of the New Zealanders - if perhaps with a slightly less aggressive approach to his preparation (more laps, less bursts, less standing starts, more runs with his group). Time will tell, and we'll see on the day, but together with Yann Guyader, Joey Mantia, Dane Lewis, and others - one of the quickest around the track right now.
Thanks Alex, glad to be able to fill in those who are yet to arrive, and those who are unfortunate enough not to be coming to Gijon at all. Hopefully with the multi-faceted web coverage on offer, we'll get the atmosphere across.
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