Developing a ‘speed reserve’ through a well designed speed development program is essential to success in any sport where combating fatigue is a requirement for success. Though we look at this term primarily when discussing track and field sprints, it’s applications apply to a range of sports. Speed reserve is, essentially, the difference between an…
Archives for sprint workouts
Long Slow Running Builds Long Slow Sprinters
Many college coaches are perplexed with the short amount of time they are able to spend with their athletes during the fall months. Typically, coaches get to work with their sprinters and hurdlers for 6 to 8 hours per week, depending on their conference or other institutional factors. Though this time is limited, it is…
Great 400 Meter Workout – 133’s
Even though I have been making hurdle contributions, I have had some success at 400 meters, and 400 meter workout. I wanted to share one of the more useful 400 meter sprint drills I have come across in the last 10-15 years. I got it from the “Gopher State”, and former head Minnesota University Track…
“Take A Week Off”
Despite access to trainers who specialize in athletic healthcare, when athletes sustain injuries, they almost always turn to their primary care physician for diagnosis. And the instruction is invariably the same no matter the injury… “Take a week off.” But some injuries require rehabilitation that includes a range of exercises to help push the recovery…
“Your Focus Needs More Focus”
Each year I notice that midway through the indoor season the focus of the sprints group starts to dwindle. After the initial excitement of getting acclimated to the team setting and traveling to meets fades, athletes have adapted to a routine that might not seem as appealing as before. But this time of the season…
Winter Workouts for Hurdles
I was inspired by the winter training article written by coach Mangiacotti two weeks ago, so I wanted to put in my two cents concerning what I wanted my young people to do for winter workouts. As a young high school coach I was determined to write workouts for everyday of the break and even…
Winter Break Workouts
It’s almost time for winter break and time to start creating required workouts that would be remiss of our athletes not complete. As coaches, I’m sure we have a shared experience of writing winter break workouts only to find that when our athletes return, they are out of shape… It is clear that they didn’t…
Floating
As I often reflect on my days at the University of Houston, I can recall a number of valuable coaching lessons I learned while under the tutelage of Mike Takaha and Tom Tellez. The cue “fast relax” or floating, is a term I became all too familiar with as Takaha and Tellez shouted the phrase…
Accelerate Daily
Student-athletes have returned from summer break, are settled into classes and are anxious about getting back on the track. Freshmen athletes are especially eager to begin their first collegiate season. The other day, one of the freshman athletes asked me, “When we will start doing speed work?” I responded, “Speed workouts start the very first…
Why even bother doing that drill?
Last week, I shared a new (to me) drill for teaching acceleration. However, since the athletes in the video displayed poor posture, poor mechanics (or both), there was some disagreement about the viability of the drill. And that brings us to an important teachable moment: You cannot separate reality from the observer. I may think…
Jump Runs
It’s time for midterms in the wonderful world of coaching. Each semester, athletes are busy preparing for major exams and their schedules change. The combination of stress and lack of sleep impel most athletes to request alternative practice times, or the day off, to prepare for these grueling examinations. I have always preached the importance…
Cold Weather Training Options
I live in New England where it stays cold until the end of the spring season. So I know my sprinters, jumpers and hurdlers will be practicing and competing in the cold, wind and snow. Since using distance runs, long/slow intervals and other methods of high volume, low intensity training do not prepare speed/power athletes…