September 9, 2008
Dylan's summer
Hard training and good sleep go hand in hand.
Today is my first day back at school after the summer break. In my summer vacation I experienced a mixture of fun, physically hard work and a few weird experiences. The summer break gave me time to appreciate the time that I had off and to deal with whatever the coaches throw at me when I didn’t.
The time that I had off during the summer break was great. I appreciate the time I have off in Japan much more as there is not much of it. In my spare time I either went into Tokyo with some friends or relaxed and got some rest from the previous day of training and in preparation for the next.
The 6 day period of summer vacation when I had double training was a time I will never forget. It was the hardest, physically and mentally, that I have ever worked in my life. In the morning training started at 9 o’clock and this training was usually only running. We would usually do one or two 3-kilometer races and then either four 750m sprints or sometimes ten 300m sprints. After this the next training started at 1 o’clock and this was a normal training which is also quite tough.
I experienced a couple of odd times as well during the time when we traveled away for trips twice for four days each. It was very different to the camps I went on New Zealand as you sleep on mattresses on the floor; you are forced to eat all of the food on the plates given and 3 bowls of rice or you are not allowed to play in the game and you also shower naked with the whole team. This is something I have experienced a little on the WYNRS NZ Japan tours but not to this extent.
Overall, my summer vacation was enjoyable but at the same time I would not want to do it again. I experienced some strange things that would be crazy in any other country but Japan. But overall I think the summer break has strengthened me as a person and I will never forget the Japanese summer of 2008.
By Dylan Windust