University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Josh Reavis
Lucas: Fun Run
September 12, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
The Tar Heels int through more preseason conditioning this week.
By Adam Lucas
Jonas Sahratian has a little different idea of fun.
As he waited for the 2018-19 Tar Heels to assemble at Finley Practice Fields one morning this week, the Carolina strength and conditioning coach expounded on what he'd consider entertaining. There's a nearby trail he's eyeing, considering it for future conditioning exercises for the Tar Heels. He thinks the terrain changes would be a nice challenge, would like to see how the players handle some of the unpredictability.
It's on his list to consider for next year. This particular day, though, is just normal running.
Don't believe that. Nothing Sahratian does is ever normal, which is why he is the best in the country at his job. Saying the most recent conditioning session was a normal workout is like saying Tyler Hansbrough—who showed up to run with the Tar Heels, just your average leading scorer in program history out for a quick workout—is a normal basketball player.
Sahratian takes nothing for granted. The players warm up with typical pre-practice stretching. But as the Tar Heels go through a series of A-skips, he spots form he doesn't like.
"We do these running drills to help with mechanics!" he barks, correcting the form. "What did we just talk about? Toughness. When you get tired, your mechanics go bad."
Tempo runs are the assignment of the day. It starts with a series of three 100-meter sprints. Perimeter players have to complete each sprint in 16 seconds, while the threshold for big men is 17 seconds.
Those three runs are followed by a series of six two-sprint combinations. First is a 100-meter run, followed after a short break by a 200-meter run. The time to make for the 100's remains the same, while guards must complete each 200 in 35 seconds (big men get 37 seconds). There are six of the two-sprint combinations.
The day finishes with three more 100-meter sprints, meaning there are a total of 18 sprints—a dozen 100's and six 200's. Each time a player misses the required time on any given sprint, he receives an extra 200.
On paper, it doesn't sound that difficult. One hundred meters seems doable. Two hundred meters, manageable. Even the players, who should know better, don't find it quite as daunting as running uphill or the circuit training that made up an earlier conditioning session this week.
A couple of players even hold a casual conversation during the first two 100-meter sprints—although it's notable that the players in question are freshmen, who may not yet realize what they're up against.
By the third 200, they're well aware. The short rest periods between each sprint—during which Sahratian and assistant strength and conditioning coach James Ayscue demand the players keep moving, walking a predetermined distance and then walking back to the starting line rather than sprawling on the ground—are long enough for the body to temporarily recover but not long enough to feel rested. Even the simplest tasks become tougher. Each 200 is the length of the field, then touching the line, pivoting, and running back the length of the field. That pivot is one of the most basic athletic movements, but even it starts feeling laborious after a couple of repetitions.
Eventually, everyone completes the assignment. Classes are canceled due to hurricane preparations, so Sean May reminds everyone to stay safe and stay in contact with the coaches. The Tar Heels are officially halfway through preseason conditioning, and the first practice of the 2018-19 season is just two weeks away.
Jonas Sahratian has a little different idea of fun.
As he waited for the 2018-19 Tar Heels to assemble at Finley Practice Fields one morning this week, the Carolina strength and conditioning coach expounded on what he'd consider entertaining. There's a nearby trail he's eyeing, considering it for future conditioning exercises for the Tar Heels. He thinks the terrain changes would be a nice challenge, would like to see how the players handle some of the unpredictability.
It's on his list to consider for next year. This particular day, though, is just normal running.
Don't believe that. Nothing Sahratian does is ever normal, which is why he is the best in the country at his job. Saying the most recent conditioning session was a normal workout is like saying Tyler Hansbrough—who showed up to run with the Tar Heels, just your average leading scorer in program history out for a quick workout—is a normal basketball player.
Sahratian takes nothing for granted. The players warm up with typical pre-practice stretching. But as the Tar Heels go through a series of A-skips, he spots form he doesn't like.
"We do these running drills to help with mechanics!" he barks, correcting the form. "What did we just talk about? Toughness. When you get tired, your mechanics go bad."
Tempo runs are the assignment of the day. It starts with a series of three 100-meter sprints. Perimeter players have to complete each sprint in 16 seconds, while the threshold for big men is 17 seconds.
Those three runs are followed by a series of six two-sprint combinations. First is a 100-meter run, followed after a short break by a 200-meter run. The time to make for the 100's remains the same, while guards must complete each 200 in 35 seconds (big men get 37 seconds). There are six of the two-sprint combinations.
The day finishes with three more 100-meter sprints, meaning there are a total of 18 sprints—a dozen 100's and six 200's. Each time a player misses the required time on any given sprint, he receives an extra 200.
On paper, it doesn't sound that difficult. One hundred meters seems doable. Two hundred meters, manageable. Even the players, who should know better, don't find it quite as daunting as running uphill or the circuit training that made up an earlier conditioning session this week.
A couple of players even hold a casual conversation during the first two 100-meter sprints—although it's notable that the players in question are freshmen, who may not yet realize what they're up against.
By the third 200, they're well aware. The short rest periods between each sprint—during which Sahratian and assistant strength and conditioning coach James Ayscue demand the players keep moving, walking a predetermined distance and then walking back to the starting line rather than sprawling on the ground—are long enough for the body to temporarily recover but not long enough to feel rested. Even the simplest tasks become tougher. Each 200 is the length of the field, then touching the line, pivoting, and running back the length of the field. That pivot is one of the most basic athletic movements, but even it starts feeling laborious after a couple of repetitions.
Eventually, everyone completes the assignment. Classes are canceled due to hurricane preparations, so Sean May reminds everyone to stay safe and stay in contact with the coaches. The Tar Heels are officially halfway through preseason conditioning, and the first practice of the 2018-19 season is just two weeks away.
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