Our commitment for this years ICI/PRO conference it to provide the absolute best fitness education available! As we finalize our roster of presenters I wanted you to meet someone new 🙂 Dr. Carl Foster is, as best I can determine, the most widely cited exercise scientist there is on the subject of Threshold based Heart Rate training. Dr. Foster's specialty is in Human Performance and many prominent coaching and endurance experts base their training techniques on the original research conducted by Dr. Foster at the University of WI - Lacrosse.
Carl Foster, Ph.D., FACSM, FAACVPR
Carl is the Director of the Human Performance Laboratory, is the Research Director of the CEP program, and teaches a number of courses in the curriculum (ESS 744: Laboratory Techniques in Clinical Exercise Physiology, EFN 730: Research Methods, ESS 780: Philosophy and Organization of Preventative and Rehabilitative Programs). Carl has over 20 years of clinical experience (at Sinai Samaritan Medical Center in Milwaukee) before coming to UW-L. Carl has a very active research program and has published ~250 scientific articles and chapters and 11 longer works (books/monographs/ position stands). Relevantly, he was a co-editor of the first ACSM Health and Fitness Facilities Standards and Guidelines and was on the writing task force for the joint ACSM/AHA Position Stand on Health and Fitness Facilities.
Carl is highly involved in both ACSM and AACVPR. He is a Past President of ACSM and was the chairperson of the Research Committee for AACVPR. Additionally, he is the Chair of the Sports Medicine/Sports Science/Drug Testing committee for U.S. Speedskating. He is a long-time member of the scientific support team for U.S. Speedskating and was the recipient of a research grant from the International Olympic Committee to conduct studies at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Carl was the recipient of the M.L. Pollock Established Investigator Award from AACVPR in 2006. He was also given the Citation Award by ACSM in 2009. He is the Editor of the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance.
I've heard Dr. Foster speak and I'm confident you will find him engaging and informative. The titles of his planned sessions are:
- Designing a Training Program Worthy of Indoor Cycling 2.0 : You've already moved from "exercise" to "training", now it's time to move from a 1 class mentality to a full season mentality. Instead of helping your students think about the objectives of a single class, help them see the significance of a single season. Dr. Foster, Ph.D. will teach you how to create a simple and straight forward approach to building a training plan that can work for you, your students and your health club.
- The Talk Test: Your Free Key to Finding Your Threshold: Knowing your heart rate threshold is the key to establishing your heart rate zones, and forms the basis for any credible cardiovascular training program. Getting a metabolic test to give you fact certain readings is great, but the expense is, well... not for everyone. However, one thing is certain; if you don't do a proper assessment, you can't get started. Dr. Foster, Ph. D will take you through the eitiology of how he and his collegaues developed the talk test, and how incredibly reliable it is even though it is a free field test. This will be followed by a 30 minute on-bike application to experience it for yourself, and simultaneously see how it is taught.
- The Magic of Measuring & Monitoring Training: You've heard the expression: "If you can measure it, you can improve it". It is a vertible axiom in life and sports. While the Cycling Room has been the last area of the industry wide health club to get real training tools, the good news is that they are coming. If you bike doesn't have a computer or read out console of some kind right now, then chances are that the next time the club buys new bikes, that will all change. Dr. Foster, Ph.D. will explain the benefits of measuring and monitoring your training, as well as providing guidelines for getting your own program started.
- T1 & T2, The One-Two Punch of Cardiovascular (or Heart Zones®) Training: First there was Max heart rate training. Then there was an enlightened exercise physiology community that promoted Threshold training as the preferred approach to improving performance in aerobic sports. The existance and incorporation of the Two Threshold system of training (Low Threshold or T1 and High Threshold or T2) is the next evolutionary step in both understanding and applying excericise science to our every day physical fitness routines. Dr. Foster, Ph.D. is joined by Gene Nacey, MPH for this session. After Dr. Foster explains the rationale for T1 and the benefits of training relative to this biomarker, Gene Nacey shares multiple case studies where these two thresholds were identified, measured and monitored for before and after effects.
We are building in extra Q&A time for each of Dr. Foster's sessions, so you will be able to get all your questions answered.
I have opened early registration for those of you wanting to get a jump on everyone else. This year we are offering you the chance to make multiple payments, rather than one lump sum. Here is the link to register.
Last year the hotel sold out. Even if you are thinking about sharing a room I would suggest that you reserve a room here's the phone number to the hotel 978-750-7987 and tell them you are in the Indoor Cycling group. We will be helping connect those looking for room-mates. NOTE: Our block of reserved rooms extends from September 28th to October 4th for those of you wanting to come early or stay a day or two longer.
John is a member on the AFS (Association of Fitness Studios) Advisory Council.
Holding certifications from; Schwinn, Heart Zones, Team ICG and Life Time Fitness, John's held regularly scheduled cycling classes between 1998 and 2015 when he moved to Florida.
When the weather permits, you'll find him riding and leading outdoor groups by himself or with his Tandem partner (wife) Amy.
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Thanks John,
Dr Foster will have much to enlighten us about I’m sure. His work coupled with that of Sally Edward and Gene Nacey is ground breaking and for sure the fundamental basis for our new effort management program.
I am looking forward to meeting Dr. Foster. I don’t know if I’ll be able to speak comfortably in his presence. But as usual, I’ll try.
This is really exciting. When do you expect to have at least a preliminary schedule for the conference?
Thanks Marsha,
I have an interview with Dr. Foster set for Friday next week with the intent to bring some additional detail on his presentations.
We have multiple commitments from sponsors (THANK YOU Keiser! and Cycling Fusion!) and a bunch of presenters, but we still have a few more to nail down before opening full registration. I’ll be sending an update this weekend 🙂
I tried to reserve a room at the hotel and could only get the 30th and 1st. Is it possible that the rooms earlier in the week are already sold out?
Christine,
We will check on the room situation. I am really looking forward to hearing Dr. Foster. Ground breaking stuff for sure. Plus, he is from my college. Go UW-LaCrosse!
I knew I had to go the conference when I saw that you had added Dr. Foster to the lineup. I had two classes do a threshold ‘test’ this weekend and they were also thrilled at the thought that I would come home with more good information for them.
To be clear, I couldn’t get a room in your ‘block’ on the 29th. I didn’t ask about the 28th.
Regarding hotel rooms – I couldn’t get a room either late last week so I asked the hotel directly and they said that they added a few more rooms so my reservation finally got through. So, Amy, it might be good to have a look at this!
The hotel just told us that they have corrected the online signup and these rooms are available now.
Sorry for the trouble.
My room situation is sorted out. Thanks. Jennifer in Sales was very helpful.
The hotel is now telling me that calling them will work better – here’s the phone number to the hotel 978-750-7987
They are in the middle of a switch of their online booking service and don’t want anyones reservation to get lost.