It is a brick workout for California triathlon children
The children who want to compete in a triathlon were introduced to a brick workout today in Richmond, California. The workout, at the Golden Gate fields and the beautiful surrounding area, involved repeated switching from biking to running and biking to running.
The children, aged 8-14, are members of the Fit Family Triathlon Team, a 12-week training program organized by Dr. Cory Nyamora, the director of Endurance—a Sports and Psychology Center.
The weekly training comprises swimming, biking and running. Dr. Nyamora organized the training to help kids who want to lose weight, get fit and healthy, make friends, and ultimately participate in a California Kids Triathlon.
Members of the Fit Family Triathlon Team pause for a photograph in Richmond Saturday
Click here to view more May 28, 2011 pictures
Dr. Nyamora explained that a brick workout is tough because the body has to adjust quickly to a different exercise.
“It is more challenging than swimming, biking or running as separate events,” Dr. Nyamora said. “It is known as a brick workout because your legs feel like bricks after you get out of the bike and begin running.”
The kids completed more than five miles on their bicycles and ran two miles.
Dr. Nyamora said that although some of the kids are better at swimming and prefer it to biking and running, they had improved their performance in all the three triathlon events.
He motivated the kids by explaining to them that biking and running would make them stronger and better swimmers.
“Every child was very impressive,” Dr. Nyamora said. “Tough workouts also help me stress to the kids the importance of maintaining a positive mindset. Although the children were tired at the end of the workout, they were still smiling.”
To make today’s workout more fun for the children, Dr. Nyamora assigned every child a leadership role at different stages of the workout. “The team members motivated one another by alternating the leads in running and biking,” he said.
The children expressed how a sense of community was helping them during the training. Nancy said she completed yesterday’s workout by keeping up with adults and other children ahead of her. Chris said the pace set by others helped him in trying to establish his own pace.
A highlight of today’s training was a presentation of a medal to Chris for his efforts to improve his biking. Chris was very proud of the medal. Last week’s proud recipient of the medal was Stephanie. She won the medal for completing her food journal, an exercise aimed at helping improve the children’s health and fitness.
The other kids cheered Chris as much as they cheered Stephanie last week.
Mills College is next weeks training venue
The children will be swimming and running at Mills Collegenext Saturday and Dr. Nyamora will continue to supervise the training.
Dr. Nyamora is a licensed clinical psychologist and a certified USA Triathlon coach, USA Track and Field coach and Youth Fitness Specialist. His center provides sports opportunities, outdoor adventures and psychotherapy for overweight children and their families.
He also provides services at a leading weight-management program at the Children's Hospital Oakland.
Dr. Nyamora works closely with families to find fun and effective strategies to improve their children's health.
