Prescribing 600 meter repeat workouts for middle distance runners is a staple in any program. The training effects of this length of workout will tax the aerobic energy system, place huge demands on the anaerobic energy system, increase the cross-sectional diameter of Type 1 (slow twitch) muscle fibers, increase the cross-sectional diameter of Type 2…
Archives for anaerobic energy system
Speed Endurance (Middle Distance Training)
The middle distance events in track and field have a sizeable anaerobic energy system contribution when the distance is done to exhaustion. The percentage of anaerobic contribution varies from 50% in the 800 meters to 80% in the 1600 meters. Because the energy contribution is so extensive, many training sessions need to be implemented during…
Performance Diagnostics
Middle distance coaches should be constantly analyzing the race day performances of runners in their training group for both good tactics and physiological strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, racing performance will improve more dramatically by developing and improving physiological weaknesses rather than improving already developed strengths. Both the aerobic energy system and the anaerobic energy…
The Twelve Day Middle Distance Training Microcycle
Understanding the principles of training theory is an important aspect of training middle distance runners. Training theory applies the laws of the natural world to the domain of athletics so that coaches do not have to rely on hope, belief, and trial or error in setting up a sequential training plan for their athletes. Training…
Aerobic Power Training
Documented training schemes designed to improve aerobic power velocitym (vVO2 max) in distance runners were first described by the Soviet Sports Institute in the 1970’s. Besides the Eastern Bloc countries, one of the athletics organizations to quickly pick up on the training concept was the British Milers Club in the early 1980’s. Frank Horwill and…
Aerobic Power Primer
All of the standard distance races including cross country are combined zone races. Combined zone means that energy needed for muscular contractions at race pace is derived from both the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems in combination. Improvement in both the capacity and efficiency of these independent energy systems, and how they work in tandem,…