European Athletics (EAA) – News – Russia’s head coach lifts the curtain on life in the team holding camp

Russia is one of the powerhouses of European Athletics and the winners of the SPAR European Team Championships for the last two years. 

They have also been Europe’s top athletics nation at the last five World Championships and are aiming to stay in continental pole position among at this year’s event, which will start in a week’s time in the South Korean city of Daegu.

In an interview with the Russian athletics federation website www.rusathletics.com on Saturday, the head coach of the Russian team Valentin Maslakov revealed a little about life at the team’s holding camp at Vladivostok.

Q What is the weather like right now in Vladivostok?

A: Pleasant, it’s 22 to 23 degrees and sunny. Everybody trained as usual. We decided that we were going to come here for our holding camp ahead of the World Championships earlier in the year.

The first vice-premier of Russia, Igor Shuvalov, came to visit the team as well. He looked at the stadium, had a very warm talk with the team and wished everyone good luck.

There is also a bit of bad news, the triple jumper Alsu Murtazina got injured. She pulled a muscle in training and will not go to Daegu now. Now, we only have Anna Kuropatkina in this event. I have talked with Alsu, tried to console her. It is terribly disappointing that a week before such important competition, she had to drop out.

Q: How many people are now in the holding camp?

A: More than a hundred, and virtually the entire team. Yelena Isinbayeva will arrive tomorrow and also our distance runners from high-altitude.

Q: What are the conditions like?

A: We have an excellent modern hotel. Athletes are living in rooms for one or two people. We eat in the restaurant; the meals are organized like a buffet. There are no complaints about the way of life here.

Q: Do athletes have a chance to rest?

A: Yes, the guys are walking around the city. Tomorrow, we plan an excursion to an island and we might do another boat trip. We are also watching the World University Games on television, seeing how our guys compete there.

Q: Is the problem of acclimatisation is a big one?

A: Yes, and I am once again convinced of how right we have been to spend the last two weeks before the Championships in Vladivostok. There’s seven hours time difference with Moscow, which can put a serious strain on the body. Athletes are feeling like they want to sleep when they need to train! Restructuring your daily routine is not easy, but it’s something that had to be done if an athlete wants to get to Daegu and feel comfortable there.