Running Coach Ed Biersteker: Training with Wavelight brings us several advantages
Ed Biersteker has been an athletics trainer for the last 28 years and has extensive experience in coaching. Ed currently trains a mixed group of top-level runners (age 19 – 60) at the Rijnsoever Athletics Club in Katwijk aan Zee, the Netherlands. Since the end of last year, Ed and his group have been training with the Wavelight system.
You've recently started training with Wavelight. What’s your experience so far?
Ed: “In 2023, our track was completely renovated. We designed it from the outset to accommodate the Wavelight system with a gutter inside the track. After a demonstration at the club by Bram Som on how Wavelight can be used as a training tool, we decided to purchase the Wavelight system. When you start working with it, you immediately notice the enthusiasm from everyone during the first few training sessions. It was a great moment. As a trainer, I was one of the first at our club to start using it, which attracted a lot of attention. Not only from our club itself but also from the entire region, there was interest in seeing what Wavelight can do and how it can improve training sessions. Working with Wavelight was well-received within our training groups. We are pleased to be one of the first clubs in the Netherlands to use this system.
Have you changed your training approach compared to before?
“The way I plan my training sessions didn't change much for me because we always use predetermined paces in our workouts. What’s different however is that previously, athletes often ran either too fast or too slow, which didn't benefit the quality of the training. Wavelight is the perfect tool for guiding athletes at the right pace during their training sessions.
Does it give you more options as a trainer?
Because I no longer have to keep track of the different paces and split times myself, I now have much more freedom as a trainer to focus on the athletes' technique. I also have a much better understanding of what happens during the training sessions. We have 5 to 6 groups per session, each running at different paces. Each group has its own pace and color of lights, so even with larger numbers, the system works well. Since last week, the last trainer at the club has also started integrating Wavelight into his training sessions. He's not very tech-savvy, so initially, it was a hurdle for him to use the system, but since he started using it, he has also become enthusiastic about the possibilities it offers.”
How do your athletes feel about training and running with Wavelight?
“They find it very valuable. Previously, they were always busy checking the time on their watches, which distracted them from their technique. Now they just need to follow the lights and they will know when they are going too fast or too slow, resulting in more
consistent training for them. The athletes adhere well to the pace and see the system as a helpful tool. Can you add other exercises to your training with Wavelight? Lately, we've been doing a lot of tempo accelerations. So you set the system to a certain pace, for example, on the 400m, to accelerate on the last stretch. Then the athletes see the lights accelerate, and it's just a matter of following. It's a beautiful simulation of a race and a playful way of training at the same time. Such exercises work very well. I use the system at every distance. In my group, there are also sprinters for whom I sometimes set the Wavelight to the world record pace. Then they can experience how fast that is. At the same time, I use it for my middle-distance and marathon runners. So Wavelight is versatile for every distance.”
Have you seen improved results in your group since you introduced Wavelight?
“We've been training with Wavelight for about six months now, and the athletes say they notice improvement, although as a trainer, it's difficult for me to measure that. But what I can say is that we're running and training much more consistently, which is a positive thing.”
What reactions have you received at the club regarding Wavelight since it's been installed on the track?
“Wavelight has had a positive effect on our athletics club for sure. Because Wavelight is installed, nearby clubs also come to visit us out of curiosity since it's so innovative. This positively represents our club.”
How do you view innovation in sports?
“I believe you should always follow innovations. Especially in sports, we're always striving to become faster and better. Nobody knows where it will stop, but it only helps us to improve, so there's no reason not to do it.”
Would you have liked to have had something like Wavelight to train with when you were an athlete?
“Absolutely. It would have been fantastic to have such a tool with a game element during my training sessions. And it also looks really fun during our evening training sessions for the younger athletes at the club.”
What long-term effect do you hope Wavelight will have?
“For us as a club, it's essential to attract new members. We hoped that Wavelight would have an effect on this in the longer term. We already see within a year that it's happening. We have more spectators along the track, and talented athletes nowadays choose to train with us instead of another club because they have the opportunity to train with Wavelight. So, as a club, we've gained quite a few members within a year, which is fantastic!”
Would you like to discover how Wavelight can help elevate your club to a higher level?
Then visit our website or get in touch! We would love to discuss how it can work for you.