Argust Relays Highlight Last Week Before Break

After several weeks of training and conditioning, the Utes are looking forward to spring break next week. However, before the rest begins, conditioning coach Greg Argust set up the 1st Annual Spring Break Conditioning Relays...Held this morning...they have become affectionately known as the Argust Relays.

Captains Kelly Isleib and Emalee Rogers picked teams to start the proceedings. There were 5 events and the losing team would have to run "gassers" as well as clean up after ward!


Team Isleib: Captain Kelly Isleib, Lauren Hair, Chelsea Forbes, Lauren Porter, Shay Kennedy, Nicole Cardon, Kellie Woodfield, Christine Quinn

Team Rogers: Captain Emalee Rogers, Erin Dalley, Hannah Turpen, Morgan Skeen, Anne Shallenberger, Katie Martinez, Mallory Mitamura, Lauren Dudley

Injured: Jen Christoffers


1st Event: Medicine Ball Relay - Team Isleib Runs Away with it Running 25 yards and back with a heavy medicine ball...and Team Isleib quickly took a 1-0 lead. See the action below




2nd Event: Sliding the Plank Relay - Team Isleib Goes Up 2-0
Pushing a plank board over 50 yards seemed to favor the smaller Team Isleib...some of the taller players had a hard time with "staying low".

















3rd Event: Bag Relay - Team Rogers on the Comeback in a Killer Event
Okay, the height paid off in the next event...admittedly a tough one, especially on the quads...Team Rogers was able to pull the heavy bags and fought back to make it 2-1...Check it out below...NOT EASY!



See the agony as Hannah Turpen and Erin Dalley try to recover from the Bag Pull!




Event 4: Farmer's Walk - Team Isleib Clinches the Title
Pulling two heavy plates over 50 yards...very difficult on the hands and fingers...walking fast (no running allowed)...and Team Isleib won a close race to clinch the best of 5 title...



















Event 5: Tug of War - Team Rogers Shows Some Pride
Already faced with the task of running "gassers", Team Rogers showed some pride by taking the Tug of War to make the final talley 3-2....It seems the Team Isleib, with the title already in hand was unable to push through the pain much....and didn't show the killer instinct. See the action below!

Becoming Faster, Stronger and a Better Player

Christmas is over and the Utes are back on the field and in the strength room. This time of year, the NCAA rules only allow 2 hours per week with the ball and 6 hours without the ball. So it is kind of a "down time" until we start training again in mid-February.

However, this is also an important time to do some of the hard work that can help improve one's game and athletic ability. We spend 3 days each week on conditioning...endurance, recovery as well as speed training.

We also work out 2 times each week the Coach Greg Argust, one of Utah's strength and conditioning gurus...Coach does a great job of getting the most out of each player with great energy and enthusiasm...unlike most colleges in the weight room, we try not to get too much into power....we don't want bulky and muscle-bound players. Our focus is on strength, flexibility, injury prevention and quickness...Check out a couple of clips from this morning's work out. Notice that we don't use big weights...just body-weight and bands for the most part....and the exercises are geared toward doing something over and over again quickly....just like in the game of soccer! Check it out!



Notice that our injured players also take part...in the second video, you will see Katie Martinez jumping over the bench...Katie is just coming back from a procedure to relieve pressure from compartment syndrome (lower legs)... You will also see Emalee Rogers hopping on one leg...Emalee suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle over the holidays...Both are coming along fine..along with our other wounded (Jen Christoffers, Erin Dalley, Anne Shallenberger, Hannah Turpen)... It is important that injured players do as much as possible to help in their rehab as well as maintain some sort of fitness level until they are fully cleared.

Of course, this is not the most exciting thing...to do or to watch...However it is VERY important work and we are proud of our team's conditioning program and results...

Wednesdays with Coach Argust

Wednesday's are a conditioning day for the Utes. We spend the first part of training with Coach Greg Argust from our strength and conditioning staff. Coach Argust is a ball of energy and has just the right balance of pushing our players as well as encouraging them.

During the season, we focus on exercises that increase strength and flexibility, help prevent injury, and help with recovery from our games.

Some players that want to focus on a particular aspect of their athletics do extra work with Coach Argust later in the week as well.

In the off-season, we work two or three days each week with Coach Argust. At that time we program spend more time increasing strength and quickness.












Here's Coach Argust at work with the team, doing a couple of flexibility exercises before training...this is toward the end of his session, so it's a little more "low key" than the usual:





In addition to the work we do with Coach Argust, we have a conditioning program that we follow that was designed by Pierre Barrieu, the conditioning coach for the U.S. National Team. Pierre's programusually has 2-3 workouts per week. It consists of many interval runs, mixed in with speed training and shorter runs. It is designed for peak fitness in October and November and takes into account many aspects of the tough college season.

Check out the great information at Pierre's web site!