I have several new (and CTF exclusive) articles for you today so I’m just going to jump right into it since they cover multiple events and topics.
First, if you missed my email last week, Complete Track and Field is under new ownership. This means a number of new changes are in the works. Please take a few minutes to watch my video on what the deal is, as well as take the survey. Completing it will be worth your while!
The following four articles have all been released in the last week, so here they are in the order they were posted:
1. The Balke VO2 Max Test by Scott Christensen (Stillwater HS, MN)
Training to maximize aerobic capacity is the cornerstone of all cross country conditioning for races of 8k or less, and very important to even 10k and 12k cross country races. The ideal training scheme will have dedicated VO2 max workouts to develop aerobic capacity and tests to monitor the developmental progress of the advancing system. Ideally, any test of VO2 max uptake should meet the minimum general requirements… – See more here.
2. Drill Progressions for Jumpers (Early Season) by Reuben Jones (Columbia University)
When introducing jump technique into the general preparation phase it is important to teach the jumping skill first, and then develop the technique for the specific event. In the fall, athletes’ biomotor qualities may not be sufficient enough to express the necessary demands of the event. So, I like to introduce rhythm simple jumping drills at slower speeds. Slow enough where athletes can feel what’s going on with their body, but fast enough where they can express power. As the year progresses, these drills become… – See more here.
3. Using Heart Rate to Control Training Intensity by Scott Christensen (Stillwater HS, MN)
Using heart rate (HR) to control training intensity requires the coach or middle-distance runner to monitor the average HR during a workout session, time trial, or race. The average race HR is called the performance HR and is specific to each runner. Training intensity is then controlled relative to performance HR. The use of performance HR correlates with the training laws of adaptation, specificity, and training overload, and is a useful marker to follow under some training conditions. Heart rate monitoring is especially effective in controlling… – See more here.
4. Top 5 Sand Bag Strength Training Exercises by Matt Ellis (Primal Athlete Training Center)
No funding? No budget? No problem! In this article, you will learn 5 exercises using the most versatile piece of homemade training equipment you can have in your arsenal: the sandbag. Sandbags are super easy to make, cost less than $30, and you can do almost any exercise with a sandbag that can be done in a weight room. In addition, sandbags are big and bulky and require your athlete to really focus and concentrate on the exercise and recruit more muscle to… – See more here.
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There you go! Read these articles, apply what is relevant to you and get a little better today!
To your success,
Latif Thomas
By the way —
Get more track stuff on Twitter: @latif_thomas
And on Facebook.
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