Optimizing Speed Training: Unconventional Techniques & Results

Last Updated on August 19, 2023 by Andrew Pirie

Speed Training Techniques

Training for Speed: Maximizing Potential in Diverse Settings

Effective training is not solely about access to the best facilities but the adoption of versatile techniques tailored to various scenarios. Here, we delve into training methods that, while not always conventional, have achieved notable results across different environments.

 

The Power of Adaptation: Beyond the Track

A fundamental yet overlooked concept: a track isn’t mandatory to unlock an athlete’s speed potential. Spaces like stairwells or open terrains can serve as excellent grounds for dynamic speed workouts. Highlight: “A track’s absence isn’t a barrier to honing speed. Alternative spaces like staircases present valuable opportunities for intense speed drills.”

For less-than-ideal surfaces, consider limiting sprints to 10-30 meters. Early-season hill sprints, when hills are available, are golden. The use of plyometrics on softer grounds also induces speed without straining the legs.

While some may sprint on basketball courts with reduced speeds, the effort remains unwavering. The goal is maintaining speed without compromising limb safety. Achieving nearly 95% speed on these surfaces can bridge the gap until ideal conditions arise.

 

Harnessing the Power of Split Runs

Using tools like measuring wheels, we determine accurate distances for split runs across terrains from parking lots to grass fields. Especially beneficial for high school athletes, breaking longer sprints into smaller chunks ensures better form and boosts psychological readiness.

Customizing these splits to individual athletes’ needs is paramount. A remarkable 11-second difference in the girls’ 4x400m relay across seasons speaks volumes about the efficacy of varying training strategies.

 

Sample Split Run Workouts:

1. Indoor Hallway Sprints: Four sets of 4x75m reps at 80% effort, with spikes up to 85%, emphasize technique and introduce athletes to lactate threshold training. Alternating this with a 5x200m strategy often results in a competitive edge.
2. Outdoor 320m Runs: 3×320 format (split into two 160m with 30s breaks) mimics indoor 300m dashes. As the season advances, the focus shifts to fine-tuning mechanics.
3. 350m Sidewalk Sprints: Designed to simulate the 400m sprint, this training modality breaks down the race into digestible segments, letting athletes understand race dynamics.

The Magic of Completion Runs

Addressing the compromised sprint times on unconventional terrains, completion runs come to the rescue. Breaking 200m sprints into 150m + 50m boosts performance.

Early in the season, the focus is on 150m intensive tempos, ramping up as months pass. A quick 50m sprint post with a 30-second break underscores technique and speed. Impressively, elite women have achieved 30-31 seconds, showcasing the methodology’s efficacy.

 

Crafting Movement Circuits for Optimal 400m Training

In the realm of 400m training, the role of aerobic work often stirs debate. While the nuances of its implementation can be detailed, the consensus is clear: a dash of aerobic training bolsters the 300m/400m performance. The duration of the race and its pace can impact its aerobic nature. However, strategic planning is pivotal, especially when determining the athletes’ suitability, the events, and the placement of these workouts within a week. Ill-planned tempos can potentially offset an athlete’s weekly training progress.

Female athletes, typically covering longer distances than their male peers, might benefit more from added aerobic sessions. Although speed reserve remains the ultimate goal, a sprinkle of fitness can extend its benefits.

Indoor training, with limited space like 30 meters, demands creativity. By transforming the warm-up into the main workout during the early and mid-season, practices become concise—often around 30 minutes—and are well-received by athletes.

The focus is on general drills, emphasizing impeccable form. Simplicity is key, incorporating a mix of skips, core exercises, and light drills. These circuits prioritize low-impact movements, emphasizing posture, and rhythm, and preparing athletes for the subsequent training day.

The term “core exercises” often evokes images of defined abdominals, but its true essence lies in activities targeting lumbopelvic stability, glute strength, and rotational resistance. In a high school setting, the allure of “core” training—often associated with a chiselled physique—is undeniable. Still, the most effective core exercises stem from intensive sprinting and weightlifting.

 

A standard movement circuit might include:

• Loose skip forward, 30m x 2
• Loose skip backward, 30m x 2
• Side skip, 30m x 2
• Low carioca, 30m x 2
• Core stability: bear crawl hold, 30 secs
• 2 x 30m tempo stride or 30 jumping jack/front jacks

The time between exercises is minimal, only allowing for brief instruction and cues. The emphasis isn’t on the specific exercises but on their precise execution, ensuring athletes appear coordinated and agile.

Feedback from athletes is invaluable. Observing their responses during workouts and gathering insights for the next day is crucial. Adjustments, such as rest intervals, are based on the athletes’ feedback, ensuring that the training remains tailored to their needs.

 

For variety, some effective exercises include:

• Loose skips
• Cross and clap skips
• A-skips
• Donkey kicks
• Jumping jack variations
• Lateral pushes
• Ankle pops
• Big arm side skip
• Side shuffle
• Low carioca
• High knee carioca
• Jumping jacks
• Bear Crawl
• Push-up plank
• Kick-throughs
• Bear crabs
• Cat/camel
• Deadbugs
• Bird dogs
• Push-ups

While movement circuits form just a fragment of the weekly training, they’re instrumental in enhancing body awareness and helping coaches identify improvement areas. The aim is to optimize athletic performance without overburdening the athletes.

 

Conclusion:

Identifying aptitude and cultivating talent for long sprints requires adaptive strategies, especially when resources are limited. The right mix of commitment, creativity, and technique, however, can lead to astonishing results. Even amid constraints, coaches can impart profound training, propelling athletes to exemplary achievements.

 

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