Competition time! Three lucky runners have a chance to win performance profiles with experts from WIT’s Department of Health, Sport & Exercise Science
Waterford Institute of Technology will partner with WLRfm Waterford Viking Marathon again this year to sponsor the much sought after goody bag for the event which takes place on Saturday June 24th.
To celebrate the ongoing partnership, the Institute is offering lactate & VO2max performance profiles to one beginner, intermediate and advanced runner during their training for the Waterford Viking Marathon.
Performance physiologist Bruce Wardrop will be performing the tests. “Normally this work would be reserved for elite athletes and their coaches. However, we are thrilled to offer this test package to the three lucky prize winners.
“Each runner will attend the Human Performance Lab to be put through their paces, after which we will be able to provide detailed feedback on the type of training they should do during their preparation for the Waterford Viking Marathon. We will repeat the tests at the end of their race prep to see how much improvement they have made. Our expert staff in the Department of Health, Sport & Exercise Science have also put together a series of free training articles which should be of benefit to all runners. You can check them out at www.wit.ie/vikingmarathon.
To be in with a chance to win this amazing prize, visit www.wit.ie/pro and answer two short questions before Friday, 31 March 2017.
WIT is fully supportive of this year’s event and many staff and students are training to take part in the Full, Half, Quarter and Relay marathon and sports staff are providing expert training advice and information for runners in the lead up to the event through the WIT website, the department’s blog and social media pages. To read some of our sports staff’s preparation advice or find out about upcoming events, visit www.wit.it/vikingmarathon.
For further information and route map on WVM 2016 see The 2017 Routes.
About the Performance Profile Test
This test will help the athlete guide their training, gauge their progress and plan their strategy for the race itself. A performance profile test looks at the runner's performance during a variety of exercise intensities ranging from very easy jogging all the way to their maximum. Throughout the test, their oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and heart rate are monitored in real time. At the end of each stage, a tiny blood sample is taken to evaluate lactate levels. When the test is over, all of the data is combined to determine how "fit" the athlete is and individualised training zones are prescribed. Repeat tests allow us to evaluate the progress and further optimise training zones.
Typically, this type of testing is reserved for competitive athletes and their coaches and we are excited to be able to offer this service out for the 3 lucky winners of our 2017 Waterford Viking Marathon competition.
About the Waterford Viking Marathon
Waterford will play host to its 6th Annual ‘Waterford Viking Marathon’ on Saturday June 24th and this year promises to be special! The three events, Full, Half and Quarter Marathon, will all commence together on the Mall in the heart of this historic Viking City. A new route for 2017 will take runners over its’ two infamous bridges, Rice Bridge in the City and the iconic Thomas Francis Meagher Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in Ireland. A taste of the recently developed Waterford Greenway is also on offer while musicians and DJ’s entertain and distract runners along the way! An impressive 350 helpers will line the route, with marshals, water stations and medical personnel ensuring the safe return of all runners to this years’ family fun finish line event which will take place in the state of the art WIT Arena, the largest sports, conference and events centre in the South East.
Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Science
The Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Science at Waterford Institute of Technology provides teaching, learning and research opportunities at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
With 650 students and 32 staff members it is the largest academic department in the area of health, sport and exercise science in the country. Its programmes span the health, sport and exercise science field, attracting students from all over Ireland.
Students have access to a range of modern facilities including the WIT Arena and our Human Performance Laboratories.
WIT Arena
650 Health, Sport & Exercise students are benefiting from the Institute’s €20 million state of the art WIT Arena which opened its doors to students, staff and the general public in September 2016.
As well as serving as a resource for the Department of Health, Sports and Exercise Science, the 2,000-person capacity WIT Arena will be used as a sports facility for students and a valued addition to the region as a conference, entertainment and sporting venue.
A free shuttle bus links WIT’s main campus on the Cork Road with the €20m WIT Arena.
Sports Scholarship Programme
The Sport Scholarship Programme at WIT is aimed at supporting high performance athletes in a wide range of sports. The support services offered include: WIT Arena High Performance Unit, academic support, sport science, medical and personal development are all tailored to help the athletes reach their potential. For 2017 a new “Emerging Talent” Scholarship package has been announced that will allow more students to benefit from the scholarship programme’s support structures. Prospective students are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
