A Day In The Life Of Your Favorite Olympian.....

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Ok so ive decided to start yet another thread.

This time to update whoever is interested on my life and training.

My name is Hector Cotto. I am currently training for the 2013 World Championships to be held in Russia, Moscow in August.

I am currently training on my own in Salinas, Puerto Rico.

I have many years of training, and have learned from many different coaches in the past, so although my training situation is not ideal i am still in a pretty good situation.
So i spent the weekend getting motivated about my training. I usually dont train Saturdays, but i decided to work on a lot of hurdle drills because i need to push myself to the next level.

I had a great workout on Saturday, woke up a bit sore on Sunday and completely exhausted. Perfect, exactly how id like to feel on my day off.

So i took Sunday as a complete day off. I did no exercising, though i did do some push ups and back exercises in my room…

I went to bed last night, later than i intended. I told my girl that i was heading to bed “early” and at around 11:30PM i said goodnight.

I ended up staying awake on Youtube. I searched for videos on training methodologies and also watched videos of music that excites me, so as to make a nice playlist for my workouts.

I ended up falling asleep around 2AM.

i slept through until 7:40AM.

I am staying at a training facility here in Puerto Rico, and so i woke to eat breakfast (7-9am) but it was not ready.

I am currently the ONLY athlete staying at this facility. The facility can house maybe 300 athletes total.

So i was told to wait a bit, as the cooks dont arrive until 8am today (no need to come in early since they are only cooking for 1)

So i came back to my room, logged onto the internet, looking to pick up where i left off last night.

When for whatever random reason i thought of this website, and decided to check in.

It is now 10:06AM here in Puerto Rico, the Therapist should finally be here, and so i am on my way down to get my 1st session in for today.

I will be doing a agility and coordination circuit this morning, and stretching for about 30 minutes afterward.

I will then return to my room, shower have lunch and sit on the internet until 3pm when i will walk down to the track for my running session.

Today i will run
3x300 meters in 37 seconds or less with 5 minutes in between for rest.

If i do not run all 3 in under 37 seconds, then i will run a 4th.

After i train, i will lift weights.

I lift weights as if i were an Olympic Lifter. I forget that i am a track and field athlete, and do 100% everything that an Olympic Lifter would do.

Not sure what today will be, but i will update it after (if i remember)

I will finish with my weights around 7-730pm, return to my room to shower and have dinner.

Thats what my day looks like for Monday January 14th 2013

2

I imagine nutrition plays a pretty important part in your daily routine. What suppliments, if any, do you find helpful in addition to your normal diet.

Also, at what point to do you begin to taper before a major event? And what does taper mean to you - 75% intensity, 50%, less?

3

I plan on walking around the block today. Afterwards, I will lift a coffee cup to my mouth several times. :slight_smile:

Seriously, I was a fairly serious amateur athlete in my younger days (not as committed as you are, though) and I remember being in top physical condition, being able to run like the wind. Great feeling.

At this point in your career (I don’t know where that is), how much do you think you can improve your times by August? (I assume you’re a sprinter/hurdler).

4

Hey Hector

Train well and give them hell

Viva Puerto Rico :smiley:

Capt

5

Nutrition is important. But its not the top priority.

My diet is GOOD. not great, but its good.

This morning i had 2 boiled eggs on wheat toast, a Cup of Orange Juice and a big bowl of Oatmeal.

As far as supplements i am currently not taking many.

I like to go as long without using them as possible. This way i get to learn my body more, i know exactly what im capable of doing with little assistance.

Once i am in decent shape i start to use supplements

I recently started taking Beta-Alanine and next week i will start with the rest of the stuff.

Ill update you on what i use as i get going.
As far as my times this year, im not going to limit myself.

Honestly i could say something like 13.1 or 13.2 which is very doable (0.30s improvement) but instead what i am going to do, is train my hardest and smartest, and try to run as FAST AS I CAN.

If that eventually leads to a 13.1 than cool, if it leads to a World Record even cooler, but regardless i am certain it will lead to improvement on my current personal best (13.49) and thats really what im looking to do at the end of the day. Improve one day at a time.

6

How about simple protein shakes?

How much of your workouts are self-directed vs. having a coach/trainer running you through specific drills?

7

I train 100% alone.

I am my own coach, and also oversee the training of 2 athletes.

Protein is very important. I can tell my body wants it, and as soon as i can ill start using some.

I use a product called Accelerade. I use it during training and competition. It cost like 25 a bottle and i use 1 a week (sucks)

I also use Muscle Milk for snacks.

1 when i wake up, 1 after training and 1 before bed. I order the Muscle Milk off Amazon because with the subscription i save and its delivered to my home on a monthly basis without me having to reorder it.