A recent study has been carried out which has supposedly debunked the whole purposeful practise ‘rule’ is now doing the rounds. I saw it on the Science of Sport Facebook page under the heading RULE “simply does not exist”. I followed their link to an article in The Smithsonian Mag called The … [Read more...]
Archives for August 2014
Plastic Brits and the Postcode Lottery
This article is guest blogged by Lee Ness, a UKA qualified Event Group Coach for Sprints and Hurdles, the Head Coach/Sprint Coach at City of Salisbury Athletics, and Running Club and Track and Field Team Manager for Wiltshire Athletics Association. Lee wrote the great 3 part series on How to … [Read more...]
Backside Action is the Key to Force Application
This guest blog was written by Adarian Barr, Assistant Track Coach, Jump/Hurdles/Multi-events at the University of North Carolina in Pembroke. To read Adarian’s past articles, click here as well as my Freelap Friday Five with him. Theories In track and field we deal with the theories of … [Read more...]
Should Athletes Sprint on Their Heels?
This article is guest blogged by Travis Hansen, author of The Speed Encyclopedia. He also wrote Why Acceleration is More Important than Top Speed in Most Sports and Building Your Horsepower – The Power Development Model Part 1 and Part 2, which are full excerpts from his book. He also wrote 8 … [Read more...]
World-Class Sprinters Attack Ground to Maximize Impact Forces, Speed
THE KEY TO SPEED? ELITE SPRINTERS ARE UNLIKE OTHER ATHLETES — DELIVER A FORCEFUL PUNCH TO THE GROUND DALLAS (SMU) —The world’s fastest sprinters have unique gait features that account for their ability to achieve fast speeds, according to two new studies from Southern Methodist University, … [Read more...]
Stockholm Diamond League: Did they Hold the Set Position Too Long?
When it comes to false starts, usually it’s the athlete’s fault for the false start. But sometimes the fault can be blamed on the starter who holds the athletes longer than 1.89 seconds in the SET position. That 1.89 number is my number... you won't find that number in any rulebook, but it's … [Read more...]
Remembering Ernie Bullard, former Coach of San Jose State and USC
Ernie Bullard died on Aug. 21 from complications following a series of strokes and heart attacks during the past year at the age 77. He is best remembered of his long Track and Field Coaching careers at San Jose State University and the University of Southern California. Among the USC athletes … [Read more...]
Why 0.24 Seconds is Added to Hand Times
Ever since the 100m was added as an official event by the IAAF in 1912, the quest to run a sub 10 second 100 meter has been the benchmark for sprinting supremacy. Roger Bannister ran the sub 4 minute mile in 1954, but the 10.0 (HT) was the WR in 1960 by Armin Hary, and later equalled by Harry … [Read more...]
Great Britain and the 4x100m Relay
It was 10 years ago in Athens 2004 when Great Britain upset the Americans at the Olympic 4x100m Relay. The original 4 from that group, Darren Campbell, Mark Lewis-Francis. Marlon Devonish and Jason Gardener, were at London's Battersea Park for a community volunteering event to re-live the best … [Read more...]
Interview with Laurier Primeau, WAC Canada, and Head Coach at TWU
Laurier Primeau is the Head Track and Field Coach at Trinity Western University since 2011. Also, the World Athletics Center has added a Canadian base to its growing International presence for the 2014-15 season along with Primeau and world-renown sports chiropractor Dr Gerry … [Read more...]
Using a Metronome to Improve Speed in a Masters Sprinter
This article was written by Paul Hoffman. You can read his previous articles here. He has also read and researched several research papers on sprinting and performance articles so you don’t have to. Using a Metronome to Improve Speed in a Masters Sprinter I thought I came up with the … [Read more...]
SHIN SPLINTS 2014 – Tip of the Hat
This new series is guest blogged by Doug Logan. Doug Logan was the CEO for USATF from 2008 until September 2010. He was also the CEO, President and Commissioner for Major League Soccer from 1995 to 1999. To read more about his background and involvement in Track, Soccer, Rugby and the Music … [Read more...]
Top 14 Ways to Improve your Start – with or without Starting Blocks
If you are looking for articles and videos on the start, you’ve come to the right place. This Blog is over 7 years old, so there is a wealth of information here. I’ve covered (with a little help from some guest writers) topics ranging from the infamous toe drag, how to use blocks, getting out … [Read more...]
Harvey Glance Motivational Speech (and shuts up Michael Johnson)
When the 1976 Olympics were held in Montreal, Harvey Glance was the man to beat. Today, Harvey Glance is the coach of Kirani James. He won a Gold medal at the 1976 Olympics in the 4x100m relay, as well as winning several Championship events (1985 World Cup, 1986 Goodwill Games, & 1987 World … [Read more...]
Michael Johnson 400 Commentary on Kirani James Commonwealth 400m
Love him or hate him, drugs or no drugs, Michael Johnson is an excellent Track pundit on BBC. In a recent interview, he says he tries not to be annoying like the other Track analysts. Agreed. In this video on YouTube, he gives some advice on how to run the 400 meters, followed by Kirani James' … [Read more...]
Does ANABOLIC NITRO Nitric Oxide Extreme Energy Surge contain Methylhexaneamine?
Amantle Montsho is now facing a two year suspension for failing drug test at the 2014 Commonwealth Games ion Glasgow. Her "A" sample test showed that it contained Methylhexaneamine, a substance considered a stimulant by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Her "B" sample will be tested in London … [Read more...]
John Smith’s Speed Endurance Workout
One of things I fear the most of the Internet is athletes copying and pasting annual plans or workouts from Elite or Olympic training programs. Take for example, John Smith of HSI speed endurance workout on YouTube. In the video, Leroy Dixon is the athlete, who won the gold medal in 4 x 100 … [Read more...]
SHIN SPLINTS 2014 – The Wall
This new series is guest blogged by Doug Logan. Doug Logan was the CEO for USATF from 2008 until September 2010. He was also the CEO, President and Commissioner for Major League Soccer from 1995 to 1999. To read more about his background and involvement in Track, Soccer, Rugby and the Music … [Read more...]
Coaching Development and High Performance Centers
We are 6 years away from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. People may think the Summer Olympics are on a 4 year cycle, but truth be told, Athletic and Coaching Development is really an 8 year cycle. When you think the average age of the 2012 Olympic Athletes was 26 (France & Germany 27, Denmark and … [Read more...]
Five Random Coaching Tips (Part 1)
Instead of trying to write a separate article from each of these inspirational videos or images, I thought to highlight what I want to say in bullet points, and back it up with a real life story. So here are the topics for today: Always Repeat Instructions, No Exceptions 400 Meters – Run … [Read more...]
