Note:
If you are keen and have queries, please contact Coach Rameshon at 9100 4369 or you can email him at m.rameshon@gmail.com or swift.rameshon@gmail.com. Please refer to website http://flexifitness.com.sg (for more information on him and his programmes)
By Rameshon
Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)
Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)
Wilson Kipketer - Believes that children are not a miniature adult
All Photographs (Courtesy of Ashley Liew)
Picture 1 - Wilson Kipketer gave his 100% to the kids on teaching them on many important exercises.
When Wilson Kipketer, the former World Record Holder for 800m, with a time of 1min 41.11sec met me, he told me that he was ready to meet the children who would be joining in the training session.
Wilson brought the children for a run around the track and gave them some movement skills warm-ups before the stretching and strengthening session. All the exercises that I saw were unique, although some have been followed by our group.
During the session, all the children were engaged. Wilson made sure that all parts of the body were stretched and loosened. The stretches were static to movement stretches and they were all dynamic exercises, where most parts of the body were strengthened.
Wilson told us that having an edge usually comes from the hands and not the legs and he showed us some very good running drills. His explanation was crystal clear and had a lot of common sense in it.
Wilson, in fact, came to me in the midst of giving some exercises to the children, by informing me to do light things on children and not to go hard on them. He gave me some structured programme to do to children such that they do not burn out when they are young. He said that too quick, if a person wants a result, would only burn out a child and the child may not take up the sport later on. He asked me to go easy on the kids.
How to do workouts were all told to our group of coaches. I, in fact, brought in some coaches to learn from Wilson to focus attention on coordination and not long intensity for children. It was an eye-opener to them.
Sebastian Coe, in the past, broke the world record to 1min 41.73sec. For that Sebastian Coe was called 'The Untouchable'. Over time, Wilson broke it by doing an unbelievable 1min 41.11sec. Later on, this timing was broken by David Rudisha and for that David got the Athlete of the Year Award 2010 for the feat.
All in all, the key message of Wilson is to give kids workouts that are feasible and short distance with slightly more repetition with time. We finally, ended the session with photo taking.
In conclusion, I found the day very fruitful and the kids really enjoyed the session with Wilson Kipketer.
Note:
By Narayanan
Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’ by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).
He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.
