Complete Speed Training

The Rocket Sprint Start, 2011 Edition, now Available!

Armin Hary-Olympic-100m-final-160

Share In 1964, Bud Winter published the book The Rocket Sprint Start based on Germany’s Armin Hary 100 meter victory at the 1960 Olympic Games. If you’ve seen the vintage footage, you will agree on two facts: (1) he was one of the fastest starters of all time, and (2) his pickup in the first [...]

Plyometrics, Ground Contact Time, and Sprinting (Part 4)

Share This is Part 4 of a multi-part article. The purpose of the article Plyometrics, Ground Contact Time, and Sprinting was simply to demonstrate the faster the movement, the shorter the ground contact time.  Dunking a basketball is much different than sprinting, so the Plyometrics you do should have a positive impact on improving (or [...]

Rehab for Hamstring Pulls and Strains (Part 4)

Share Part 1 started with the article Hamstring Injuries, the Iliopsoas and Imbalances.  Part 2 was titled Controversial Hamstring Workout for Rehab (Part 2).  Part 3 was titled More on Stretching and Movement (Part 3) So this is Part 4 of Part ?… Thoughts of Lyle McDonald somehow come to mind… You know that silly [...]

The Arthur Lydiard Method – Training from 800 meters to Marathon

Share If you are interested in a 3 hour rare audio recording of Arthur Lydiard, visit the Bud Winter website for a copy of the International Sports Symposium. I was once told by my previous coach Dennis Barrett, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery".  Actually, that quote came from Charles Caleb Colton (1780-1832). You [...]

How to Improve Acceleration Part 2

Share This is part 2 of a multi-part series.  Part 1, which discussed hip mechanics, can be found here. This part will discuss: which foot is the power leg resistance running with weighted sleds resistance running with isorobic ropes resistance running with uphill running resistance running with parachutes Without getting into too much detail on [...]

How to Improve Acceleration (Part 1)

Share What would you do if <insert elite athlete name here> came to you asking for a new coach?  What areas could you improve on? First, I like to go back to basics, and ask for his prior training plans to get an idea what volumes and intensities he or she can handle. Let’s start [...]

2 Secrets to Sprinting: Forward Lean and Longer Ground Contact

Share There’s a reason why the October Issue of Men’s Health is pictured on the left.  (Thanks to Divinio A. for pointing it out) Here is a snippet of the article on page 36 referring to Leaning Power: "Dig, dig, dig!" may not be the best advice to shout at a sprinter. A recent German [...]

Why the 4x400m Relay is the Best Event Ever

Share I’ll summarize it in one sentence: Host Nation India wins Gold Medal 4x400m women’s relay at the 2010 Commonwealth Games That headline is enough to spark a few readers. That’s why the 4×400 meter relay should be kept as the final event of the program (aside from the marathon, which is not technically a [...]

The Soccer (Football) 30 meter Sprint Test

Share So you want to be a Soccer Player?  So you want to be a Football Player? I’m sure if Bud Winter was alive, he would have written a book on this. This article is a spin off on the series of 40 yard dash for American football where 40 Yard dash times are used [...]

Carl Lewis: First 3 Steps out of the Blocks

Share “The Start” has always been a fan favorite for discussion. Everyone worries about the start to shave a few tenths of a second, when they could work on speed endurance and shave a few seconds, especially in a 200m. Then again, a good start sets you up for all phases of the race.  So [...]

Usain Bolt – My Story 9.58 Book Review

Share Usain Bolt‘s official biography goes on sale tomorrow. For those lucky enough to live in the UK or Europe, Usain Bolt’s new book My Story: 9.58: Being the World’s Fastest Man went on sale Sept 2. UK and Europe readers, click here for the book. For those living in the rest of the world, [...]

How to Race the 400 meters – Run Your Own Race

Share The elite men’s 400 meters over the past 6 years saw the rise and fall (and rise again) of Jeremy Wariner, the rise and fall of LaShawn Merritt, and the emergence of new up and comers like Jermaine Gonzales.  There were some great European faces like David Gillick and the Belgium Borlee twins, but [...]

GPP Training: 101 Different Push-up and Sit-up Exercises

Share It’s mid-September and some of you are still on a training break, others are back into heavy GPP training. What the heck is GPP? In short, it’s just plain well rounded fitness.  It’s a good time for athletes to be in balance with strength and coordination for all the body parts. GPP, or General [...]

Protein in Whole Milk vs Fat Free Milk

Share I was asked by an athlete on a long bus ride home: What has more protein? Whole Milk or Fat Free Milk (aka Skim milk in certain parts of the country)? A quick Google search will tell you they are the same at 8 grams of protein per cup or 250ml of milk regardless [...]

David Rudisha 800m World Record Video: 1:41.01

Share I predicted David Rudisha would break the World Record in Rieti. He ran a World Record 1:41.09 6 days earlier on August 23rd. When you analyze the top men’s 800 meters performances over the last 25 years, NINE were set in Rieti. Make that TEN as of today! SIDENOTE: In 1997, Wilson Kipketer also [...]

David Rudisha 800m World Record Video: 1:41.09

Share I predicted David Rudisha would break the World Record in Rieti. Perhaps I could still be correct with the meet being one week away. But my crystal ball is besides the point. David Rudisha broke the world record in Berlin with a 1:41.09, meat slicing a measly 0.02 seconds off the old standard of [...]

Michael Johnson’s Speedwork Training

Share Michael Johnson’s training for speed endurance was covered in detail very early in the blog, so I thought it would be interesting to review what he did for speed work or acceleration development.  After all, we are talking about at man with a 10.09 PB for 100 meters and who ran 19.32 for 200 [...]

Glen Mills on Tall Sprinters having an Advantage

Share Is it my imagination, or are we seeing a rash of taller athletes, at least in men? I’m not only referring to Usain Bolt who is 6 feet 5 inches (1.95m). There are plenty of track athletes over 6 feet 3 inches (1.90m) such as 800m specialist David Rudisha from Kenya, 800/1500 runner Andrew [...]

Darren Campbell on Christophe Lemaitre

Share I’ve received several emails from readers on what I think Christophe Lemaitre.  First, I think it’s refreshing to see young talent (regardless of the colour of his skin) with amazing potential.  Hopefully his parents and management team will keep him level headed, just like Alyson Felix.  I am glad to see him still in [...]

4x100m Relay: Thoughts on the European Athletics Championships

Share Anyone who has followed this blog will know I love relays.  Why?  Because anything goes. The 4x100m at the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona was no exception. It was a shame to not see Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Finals as a UK-France match up would have soared the ratings.  Like [...]

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