A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words – Doha IAAF WIC 2010

Gone are the days of still photo photography.
I should know, I used to be a photo journalist for a newspaper AND I had to develop my own film and prints in my darkroom!  Plus I delivered them on my Canadian Tire 10-speed bicycle (I was under 18 at the time and didn’t drive or own [...]

Obituaries: Olympic Medalist Wayne Collett 1949-2010

Wayne Collett is most famous for his 1972 Olympic medal presentation “protest” where he won the silver medal behind American teammate Vince Matthews in the 400 meters.  Had John Smith not been injured, we would have seen an American sweep.
The IOC banned Collett and Matthews for life and with John Smith injured, that left Lee [...]

From the Archives: Maximal Speed and Deceleration

43 years ago today…
John Smith of HSI once said the goal of a 100 meter performance is to ELIMINATE the Negative Acceleration Phase.   Another term is deceleration.  Everyone decelerates in a 100m. 
Even Usain Bolt decelerates, as seen in his splits, though he reaches his top speed well past 60 meters. 
When Carl Lewis decelerates, [...]

REVIEW: Adidas Powersprint 2 Track Sprint Spike

adidas Powersprint 2 – Mens – Signal Blue/Metallic Silver/Black
The Men’s adidas Powersprint 2 will be a popular sprint spike for 2010.
If you are familiar with the original adidas Powersprint, this is the next generation up. I still race in my original Black/Red Powersprint models.
Just like the Demolisher series in post-2004 Athens, the Powersprint 2 [...]

Chris Brown: How to Run an Indoor 400 Meters

I’ve said this time and time again.
For the indoor 400 meters, you have to get out quick to be in front at the 150 meter break, and then just relax.  If they pass you on the last 50 meters, so be it.
The 2010 World Indoor Championships at Doha, Qatar was a clinic on how to [...]

Another Interview with Tyson Gay

This interview was held on March 2009.
Interesting interview, especially when he confesses his junk food habits!  If you want to read more about the effects of junk food, read the Top 10 Worst Fast Food Places List,  Are French Fries Bad for You?-, and  EAT THIS, NOT THAT – Book Review
Q. What’s a typical training [...]

Technology Tracking in Track and Field, Road Races

Gone are the days when you finished a road race and you were given a popsicle stick with a number scratched on it.
Or, in cross country, you had to line up in order inside the finish line chute… no butting in or cutting the line, as that would screw up the placements.  And team points.
The [...]

400 Meter Training: Greater Strength = Faster Times (Part 3)

This article is guest blogged by Jim Hiserman, author of the books Program Design Method for Sprints & Hurdle Training and Strength and Power for Maximum Speed
GREATER STRENGTH = FASTER TIMES
Part 1 can be found here.  Part 2 can be found here.
Proper Cycle-Length Pattern plans for each phase of the training year and training method [...]

400 Meter Training: Greater Strength = Faster Times (Part 2)

This article is guest blogged by Jim Hiserman, author of the books Program Design Method for Sprints & Hurdle Training and Strength and Power for Maximum Speed
GREATER STRENGTH = FASTER TIMES (Part 2)
Part 1 can be found here.
In order for the planning of successful training programs aimed at improvement in the 400 meters, coaches must [...]

International Women’s Day: Honoring Irena Szewinska

March 8 is International Women’s Day.
It is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women’s Day is a national holiday!
To honour this day, I will choose to write about Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA) and Irena Szewinska (Poland).
I [...]

WMA 2010 Indoor Championships – Did they Play by the Rules?

Disclaimer: I am not in Kamloops, so I am only going on the official results.
A quick look at the results and message boards from the WMA 2010 Indoor Championships in Kamloops showed some potential mistakes from the LOC.
But did they?
Let’s take an example.
W45 200 Meter Dash Prelims: 18 athletes declare, with 3 heats of 6 [...]

400 Meter Training: Greater Strength = Faster Times (Part 1)

This article is guest blogged by Jim Hiserman, author of the books Program Design Method for Sprints & Hurdle Training and Strength and Power for Maximum Speed
GREATER STRENGTH = FASTER TIMES
Development of mechanically sound sprint technique and the improvement of Strength and Power are of equal importance in the quest to develop faster sprinters at [...]

Obituaries: Olympic Medalist Paul Drayton 1939-2010

Paul Drayton of the USA won a silver medal in the 200m plus a gold medal in 4×100 meter relay at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.  He died on March 2, 2010.
In the 200 meter video below (in Italian), you can see him beating 1960 Olympic winner Livio Berruti of Italy (in sunglasses in [...]

Changing the IAAF Reaction Time Rule (Part 2)

Yesterday’s article on Armin Hary and other “False start incidents” prompted a more in depth look at the 0.100 second (or 100 milliseconds) reaction time rule.
The 0.100 number is based on an assumed minimum auditory reaction time, based on the average 0.132 seconds.
The IAAF commissioned the Neuromuscular Research Center (Department of the Biology of Physical [...]

Armin Hary and the IAAF Reaction Time Rule (Part 1)

“The start “ has been the center of controversy since the beginning of Track and Field.
Over 50 years ago, it was Armin Hary of Germany and his lightning quick starts and acceleration. In the days before pressure pads were installed on the blocks, several athletes accused him of jumping or anticipating the gun.
Peter Radford of [...]

Usain Bolt’s 43.58 400m Relay Leg Video

At the 2010 Gibson Relays, Usain Bolt ran an impressive 400m anchor leg making up more than 20 meters, but it wasn’t enough to win against a strong University of Technology team.
Bolt’s anchor leg split was 43.58 seconds. Listen to the crowd as 15,000 spectators stand and cheer on their feet as he took the [...]

What is your Favorite NCAA Track and Field Moment?

The producers of NCAA On Demand Track and Field have a nice selection from their archives.  This includes all the indoors and outdoors NCAA Championships.
What’s your Favorite NCAA Track and Field Moment?
If you are a Florida State Fan, or Walter Dix, surely it can’t be 2007!
Was it Xavier Carter’s 4 Gold medals, with 3 on [...]

Nike Launches Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II with Cristiano Ronaldo

At a global media event featuring footballer Cristiano Ronaldo in London, NIKE, Inc. today unveiled the Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II, a lightweight boot featuring a new, unique adaptive traction system designed for explosive acceleration. The Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II features a reengineered upper for enhanced fit and ball control for fast feet. The vibrant ultra-violet [...]

Vertical Jump and Sprinting: Training the Posterior Chain

One of the biggest fallacies in sprinting fast is the muscular legs and thighs in sprinters.  I recall watching a meet and someone said “look at the size of Dwain Chambers’ quads!”
I simply remind them to look Blanka Vlasic legs with her tiny calves… thus the power is in the hips.
Even the word “hips” is [...]

2010 NFL Combine Predictions – 5 of the Fastest Men #NFLCombine

This week is dedicated to the NFL Scouting Combine, held February 24 – March 2, 2010.
The NFL Football Combine is a Job Fair for 300 of the best college football players seeking employment.
I’m a bit biased in choosing the fastest men out of the NCAA.  Why?  First, I’m a track guy after all, but second, [...]

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