Jan
07
I know what you did last summer!
ByWell, I don’t but I thought it would be a cool title! Having said that I’ve just sat down and looked back at what I did in 2010…it’s amazing just how much you can get done in a year.
It’s at this time of year most people take a look back at what they got up to in 2010. I’m not a huge fan on dwelling on the past, but it’s nice to have a look at what you’ve done during the past 12 months., especially when you realise you’ve actually accomplished a fair bit!
January
January was pretty quiet for me. Richard “The Fitness Freak” Kennedy popped over from Ireland and spent a week picking my brains. He’s a top guy and has a nice little set up out in Ireland. At the end of January I headed north to attend the UKSCA tutor training workshop. I’m not usually a huge fan of this type of thing but it was a great 3 days and it was nice to see some old faces from my days at the English Institute of Sport (I think some of them were surprised to see that there is actually life after the EIS!).
February
In February I headed down to London with Duncan French to meet with the team for Nike to discuss a new project. SPARQ is the training division for Nike and we had both been invited down, along with another handful of coaches to see if we would like to work with them to launch SPARQ in the UK. It’s a bit of a no brainer really…Nike ”Would you like to work with one of the global leaders and help establish SPARQ Football in the UK and become one of six Performance Experts”…Nick “ermmmm, let me think for a second…YES!” We’ve had a great time working on this project and it will be interesting to see where it goes in 2011.
February was a month of epic road trips. On a dark and cold Friday night I drove Duncan French and Brendan Chaplin to Ipswich (yes I said Ipswich!!!) for the first EXF-Perform Better Learn By Doing Workshop . The team from EXF-Perform Better had found a great venue and the day went really well. Matt Lovell joined the 3 stooges and delivered a fascinating workshop on performance nutrition (his ’s cookery session was belting as well, and his recipes are a regular in the Grantham household!)
March
In March I headed down to the Wirrall to deliver the first of several workshops aimed at physiotherapists. It’s no secret that I think physio’s can pick up a lot from S&C coaches (and visa versa) and it’s been a real pleasure delivering these workshops this year. The first one took place at Arrowe Park Hospital and the rest has been history. I also had a chance to pop in and see my main man Neil Parlsey’s, gym The Underground Training Station. We had some fun, his MRT session knocked the crap out of me but the superb dinner cooked by his wife more than made up for it.
The highlight of the year also took place in March. I spent a whole day in the recording studio with Duncan French!! We were doing the voiceovers for the P2P DVD and whilst in my mind it was a bit like the Live Aid thingy the truth is we were not very rock and roll. No recreational substances, just copious cups of tea (not for Duncan, he’s a bit weird and doesn’t drink hot drinks). The poor sound engineer had his work cut out – one week he’s mixing Beverly Knight, the next it’s me and Dunc! The out takes role would be priceless!
April
At the end of April I headed down to speak at the Fitness Entrepreneurs Bootcamp. Not usually my sort of thing but I’m so glad I went, there were some superb speakers (Michael Heppel, Phil Richards, Nick Nanton). I also got a chance to catch up and hang out with Alwyn and Rachel Cosgrove. Some how Alwyn managed to get a photo of him kicking the crap out of me worked into Michael Heppels Opening presentation…you may all know him as a fantastic coach, but he really is an arse! (Alwyn Cosgrove that is….not Michael!!). I had better take that back, I’m going on holiday to California for two weeks and if I’m not careful Alwyn will change the locks! They have another event planned for May 2011 – check it out.
May
May saw the start of all things SPARQ. It’s been fun getting out there and working with the clubs and players. It’s particularly interesting seeing the various fitness levels of players, from grassroots right the way through to the pro’s. Oh, and it was my birthday!!!
I also pulled my finger out and got some training information out there. It followed on from the presentations I’d been delivering at the start of the year. If you are a regular to this site you will know that everyone should train like an athlete and in May I lifted the lid on some of the strategies I use on a daily basis. Check out www.trainlikeathletesdo.com
June
In June I spent some serious time heading up and down the motorway to Scotland to work with the GB Women’s Basketball team. It was the first time I had worked with this squad and it was the start of a long summer!
The EXF-Perform Better seminar series came to an end in Oxford at the site of Roger Bannisters sub 4 minute mile. Once again, a superb workshop with some great presentations from Neil Parlsey, Charlotte Ord and Jon Le Tocq. Check out the footage from that final day in sunny June.
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Chad Skrederstu came over to the UK and spent some time with me in Newcastle. Chad is doing some great things at the moment and you really should check him out here. I’m looking forward to catching up with him in his back yard in April and seeing if he has developed a taste for Chilli’s yet.
July
Basketball – with the exception of some time off to celebrate my mums 75th Birthday, July was pretty much non-stop Basketball. We were bouncing around training camps and I even got to see the delights of Belgium (a place that I’ve not really liked since I travelled there with my Sunday League football team…it’s a long story). My experience this time round was much nicer, and I discovered the wonders of peppermint tea! I managed to squeeze some pre-season work in for some of the football and rugby players getting ready for the new season…which leads nicely to August!
August
August was the culmination of all the work with GB Basketball and the team made history when they qualified for the European Championships for the first time ever! (I have to give a big pat on the back to my partner in crime, Duncan (Mr Basketball) French, who had done all the hard work during the 4-5 years he had been with the GB teams – I was standing on the shoulders of a giant this year – cheers buddy (it was fun celebrating with you in Liverpool!).
June 2011 is going to be a very busy time!
We had some fun along the way…especially when Silky and Sam rocked up at SMART Fitness to see if they could cut it with one of GB’s training sessions. So much footage didn’t make the edit – these boys were hilarious!
I also dipped my toe into the world of professional football in August, taking on a consultancy role as the conditioning coach to one of the pro teams based in the North East.
September
When I left the Fitness Entrepreneurs Bootcamp in April I left with some notes scribbled in my pad . The notes related to developing a mentorship programme. Less than six months later I was stood with Duncan French in front of out first intake. Three intense days of learning followed and I’m so glad I grew a set of nuts in April and went for it!
Performance Training Mentorship Programme from Nick Grantham on Vimeo.
At the end of the month I headed to London to take part in the Rat Race. I completed a similar event in Edinburgh the year before and I have to say the trip to Scotland was much better! Probably something to do with my complete lack of training! Oh well, good job I’ve not entered the Nokia Coast to Coast challenge in September 2011 then!
(Start of Day 2 – Officially hanging out my arse. There’s a reason why I always wear glasses – you can’t see the pain in my eyes!)
October
In October I started working with Northumbria University again on their intern programme. This is the third year that I’ve delivered this internship and it’s something I always enjoy doing. Taking students with book smarts and giving them some practical intelligence! It’s especially pleasing when you see interns that you’ve worked with go on to secure jobs working in performance sport.
November
The UKSEM Conference in London was a great event and I got a chance to share the stage with, Vern Gambetta, Frans Bosch and Kelvin Giles. Talk about pressure! It looks like I’ll be involved in 2011 and it will be great to spread the word of S&C among the doctors, surgeons and physiotherapists.
All good things come to an end and in November I decided to stop writing for Sports Injury Bulletin. I’ve been a regular for 10 years with my own column for the past 5 years and I figured it was time to let someone else have a crack. Although I’m no longer a regular in Sports Injury Bulletin I’ve got a couple of articles that will be going in there this year.
A first for me in November was a live webinar – I was honoured to be asked by the team at strengthandconditioningwebinars if I would deliver a webinar on recovery and regeneration. If you missed it then check it out here >> www.strengthandconditioningwebinars.com <<
December
In December we finally launched the P2P Olympic Movement Preparation DVD and Manual. Six months later than we had hoped, but all good things are worth waiting for. We’ve been getting some great feedback and its great to see coaches from America, Australia and Europe using the resource.
Just as the year closed I agreed to be a regular for two magazines. Four Four Two are launching a new Performance section of the magazine (as well as a fantastic website with a ton of football related training information on it) and have asked me to contribute to the magazine and website. Fighting Fit is another great magazine for anyone involved in combat sports. What I like about this publication is that they are trying to lift the lid on sport science and strength and conditioning and show combat athletes how they really should be training (not just doing what historically has been accepted as the norm).
2011
2011 – I’m sure it’s going to be another exciting year. Smart Fitness continues to keep me busy and I’m fortunate to have some great coaches working for me (cheers Joe and Suzi!), making sure it’s still runs smoothly when I’m away coaching or delivering workshops (check out my speaking engagements and see if I’m coming to a venue near you!).
It will be interesting to see how the teams that I work with get on this year, it’s a big year for both teams, all be it for slightly different reasons!
Duncan and I are looking forward to the Spring Performance Training Mentorship Programme, We really enjoyed working with the coaches in September and I’m sure we are going to have another great group to work with at the end of March.
So, 2010 was a great year and I’m really excited for what 2011 brings.
Happy New Year Everyone.
2 Comments
January 7th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
Great stuff Nick. I work with a few of the GB Basketball players at UWIC, some great athletes.
I haven’t read Fighting Fit in a long time but I did notice that they put out great information for a magazine like that. I think I read articles from Paul McVeigh and Ollie Richardson.
For 2011… Start working towards UKSCA accreditation. Continue to learn and develop as a coach in UWIC and the WIS. Finish my taught classes in June and finally get out into the real world, hopefully with a decent job. Hopefully get an article or two get published in a Journal. Concentrate more on my own training. Right now, get through Shirley Sahrmann’s book!
January 9th, 2011 at 7:53 pm
Fighting Fit is working really hard to get some good information out there. The panel of experts they have is good. Paul is a great guy (met him at a seminar we put on up here a couple of years ago) and they have some top S&C boys writing, including Ian Pyper, Neil Parsley and Brendan Chaplin.
Have a great year Fionn.