SPORT PSYCHOLOGY

Attackpoint –

the net effect on training

Jason McCrae – Psychologist

A recent phenomenon in Australian orienteering, particularly at the elite level, has been the high rate of uptake of the Attackpoint online training diary. Attackpoint (www.attackpoint.org) is a cross between a training diary and an online blog and has been christened by various users as a ‘trog’ (short for ‘training log’). Users create for themselves a login using a nickname (mine’s “acejase”) and are able to, with little internet experience, enter into the website what they do for their daily training. The website will then display your training, listing the training done for the day in terms of the type of training (for example, running, orienteering, walking etc.), kilometres covered and time taken. If the individual wishes details can also be added about the level of effort, heart rate, weight, sleep, shoes worn and, if the training session was orienteering, details of number of controls spiked. Additionally, in the fashion of a blog, the writer can write a description of the session or race and other users can leave comments next to each entry.

Why does it help?

Picture: www.attackpoint.org logo

Attackpoint’s motto is “Train-log-review-motivate” and it certainly appears to be achieving those goals for many of the troggers on Attackpoint. Some of the benefits appear to be: • Like any training diary keeping a record of your training allows a person to review what aspects of their training may or may not have worked. Just had your best ever result? Hmmm I wonder what training and pre-race preparation produced that – I’ll check my trog. Developed an injury? What training contributed to that – I’ll check my trog. • Comparisons with other ‘troggers’ allow orienteers to compete against each other in terms of individual sessions or overall training. Attackpoint automatically calculates your total training times for a week and can calculate your monthly, yearly or whatever date range you like. A recent Attackpoint ‘event’ was when two notoriously slack trainers Grant Bluett (Attackpoint nickname “Grant”) and Dave Meyer (the aptly nicknamed

“lazydave”) had a contest to see who could do the most training in a two-week period. They racked up hour after hour of training, each time returning to their Attackpoint trogs to see whether they were ahead of the other. As could probably have been predicted, it ended in injury to “lazydave”, as of course too much training without adequate fitness build-up is not recommended! The point is though that comparing yourself with your competitors can help for motivation when, for example, a rainy day might otherwise keep you inside in front of the TV. • Typing up some comments on your own training is a good way to reflect and consider whether you are doing the right things and how enjoyable you are finding your training.

The commenting facility, which allows other users to write comments on your day’s training, also gives opportunity for suggestion, feedback and encouragement. My successes since

I have been on Attackpoint, while not exactly memorable compared to some of our elites, were nonetheless greeted by encouragement and congratulations from various other members of the Attackpoint community. In addition, others can help identify causes of injuries or the good performances, allowing tailoring of training to gain the most benefit. • It’s a great way to keep up with the life and times of orienteering friends who perhaps you don’t always get to see that often.

Since the advent of Attackpoint I have been able to keep up a lot better with O-friends interstate, both in terms of their training and their lives! • There is a section of Attackpoint for general discussion and this at times proves most interesting. A recent thread has covered the top-10 favourite maps of Australian orienteers with regular mentions to such terrain-luminaries as Kooyoora State Park,

Pittwater Dunes, Cascades, Malmalling and Big Badja. • Publicly writing your goals in your trog is a great motivator for training and in Attackpoint often leads to encouragement and working together to achieve those goals. Races that individuals are aiming for are publicly listed and other troggers sign up to say they are aiming for those events too.

How do I start my own trog?

It’s easy enough and fairly intuitive to use. Surf your way to www. attackpoint.org, create a witty (or otherwise) nickname, login and start entering your training. If you want some guidance on what the average online training log looks like or you want some ideas on your own training I suggest you surf your way through some of the diaries online. Some suggestions would include “Simon87” and “007” (Australian JWOC 2007 stars Simon Uppill and Vanessa Round respectively), “blairtrewin” (Victorian elite Blair Trewin), “GraceE” (Australian current No. 2 ranked female orienteer Grace Elson) or “Shep” (Australian representative David Shepherd).

Jason McCrae is a Psychologist in the ACT, currently working for Lifeline Canberra. He has previously worked as a Sport Psychologist at the ACT Academy of Sport which is also Orienteering Australia’s National Training Centre. He can be emailed on jason.mccrae@tpg. com.au