Training in isolation

Taking a long-term view on what is needed for the Philippine sports program to jump forward, one of the critical components for any future success is a new sports complex where the athletes can train at world-class standards. Given the prohibitive price of real estate in big city centers, it would be more practical to build far away from urban centers. It would also have many benefits for the long term. After all, you don’t need to train near a city to be successful. On the contrary, there are many reasons why the reverse is actually true.

No distractions. The most obvious reason why professional and amateur athletes should ideally train away from urban centers. Firstly, there are no other entertainment platforms available in many areas, and even internet access is limited. Some places even purposely disallow the use of mobile phones so as not to tempt athletes to text or call loved ones and friends in the midst of training. There are no malls, bars and amusement centers where young people congregate and keep themselves up late, either. Also, you could always head home for a meal, which may have its psychological benefits, but also open you up to exposure to other pollutants and stresses. But if you’ve been an athlete since childhood, you would not find this too big of an adjustment.

No traffic. This is an inescapable part of life in Metro Manila. The MMDA has, in fact, even had discussions on how to remedy the situation in particularly troublesome areas like Katipunan in Quezon City. Stewing in traffic is not only stressful mentally, it also induces feelings of helplessness, which run counter to the confidence you try to build as a competitive athlete. On top of that, it being a fixed position for hours at a time takes its own toll on the body. In addition, you’re sitting in air-conditioning for extended periods of time, which also isn’t as healthy as people think. All in all, being stuck in traffic has very few benefits other than allowing you time to do things other than train while inside the car. But there’s only so much you can accomplish while immobile. 

Closer teamwork. One of the hallmarks of the Philippine men’s basketball team in the 1980’s (which carried the name Northern Cement) was their outstanding teamwork. The players from that squad were part of a five-year program to elevate Philippine basketball, and its members still contribute to basketball to this day as coaches and team managers in the PBA and collegiate leagues. One of the reasons the game came easily to them was that they were quartered together and were living as a big extended family. To this day, they still remember those days with fondness, they are still considered heroes, having defeated the US in the Jones Cup under Ron Jacobs. They follow in the footsteps of the 1936 Olympic team, which endured three weeks on a steamer ship and one week on a train just to get to the Berlin Games. It was on that torturous journey that they were united in their sacrifice.

Better food. If you are far away from the big cities, there are no fast food, no junk food, very little processed food. You get the best of produce direct from the farm, and are closer to suppliers of all your protein needs. In addition, you develop regular eating habits and have nothing to do but train. The absence of other stresses also aids in digestion and absoprtion of food. 

No pollution. It goes without saying that, if you’re up in the mountains or near the sea, the air is better. US Olympic athletes acknowledge the benefit of high-altitude training, and in many sports, top athletes schedule the last few days of their training in high altitude to increase their absorption of oxygen-rich air, knowing the effects usually last a few days. You always get a lift when you breathe clean air, and you generally are able to train harder and last longer in your sport. It also works to the advantage of mountain-based NBA teams like the Denver Nuggets that they’re used to the high altitude and their opponents are not. When the other teams are running out of gas and gasping for breath, they keep chugging along.

Deprivation equals motivation. Many coaches and managers deprive their athletes of many familiar things to make them meaner and hungrier (not literally) in preparation for a big match. Some deny them their favorite foods, or make their surroundings as spartan as possible to intensify their motivation. Legendary boxing trainer Angelo Dundee was said to isolate his boxers from their spouses and girlfriends to deprive them of any intimacy, and lay the blame squarely on the opponent. That naturally increased their aggression, not to mention their haste in trying to get the fight over with. 

Varied terrain. In the US NCAA, varsity athletes are not allowed to indulge in their sport during the off-season. They are, instead, encouraged to try another sport, and take advantage of trying outdoor sports, in the meantime. The cross-training in differing terrain provides a fresh challenge, and also stirs up the muscles that they do not normally stress in their given sport. Trying something new also shakes them out of the complacency and routine of having done the same thing over and over again for years. All of a sudden, they’re trying to be good at something they are no longer the best at. It can be both motivating and humbling, and offers a new way of looking at things.

New science. New branches of science are showing that being in urban centers is altering our physical make-up. One example is the little-known anthropometric history, which states that being in crowded places actually causes us to evolve by becoming shorter. The additional stresses of being in a city and often in confined spaces theoretically causes human bodies to adjust to their environment as an evolutionary response.