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Dwain Chambers, Ato Boldon and Box Jumping

Several years ago in the days before YouTube, there was a viral video of Ato Boldon doing a 60 inch or 1.50m box jump (approximately).  Obviously, people confused this with the vertical jump or vertical leap test, but it is a good indication of explosiveness.  And bravery.
I am a firm believer in plyometrics, and I […]

Tom Tellez’ 5 Phases of the 100m Sprint

I mentioned the previous USATF SuperClinic in the article on Dwayne Miller, LaShawn Merrit’s coach.
Among the wealth of information provided at this clinic was a lecture and handout from Tom Tellez. 
Tom Tellez requires no introduction… you can read the article Sprinting: A Biomechanical Approach Part 1 (Part 2 is here) for a detailed look […]

Asafa Powell, Lolo Jones in the Olympics’ Best Of Us Challenge

  The International Olympic Committee (IOC) just launched The Best of Us Challenge, a global competition in which ordinary individuals compete against their peers and Olympic athletes such as Asafa Powell, Lolo Jones, pole vaulters Steve Hooker & Yelena Isinbyeva and multi-eventer Carolina Kluft.  Yes, it even includes Michael Phelps!
It’s all for a good cause […]

How NOT to do Sled Training

In the YouTube video below, we have Veronica Campbell-Brown training with Tyson Gay.  Two world class athletes.  Fast forward to the 1:20 mark and you will see VCB doing a variety of 4 drills with a sled or harness.
First, who am I to argue if these drills and exercise are crap, considering the success of […]

Flying 30 for Sprinters: Achieving Max Velocity and Maintaining it Over the Critical Area of Race

The post was written by Ed Barber, currently the Sprints / Pole Vault / Multis coach at Hartnell College in Salinas, CA.
A Level III certified USATF Coach, Coach Barber took Calvin Harrison (44.78) to the Olympic Trials in Atlanta 1996.   Calvin went on to earn a gold medal in the 4×400m Relay.

Flying 30 for […]

Asafa Powell and Carmelita Jeter - Peak Training Age

Can you imagine having a 17 year old male sprinter on your team who runs 11.45 for 100 meters, then the following year as a Junior he runs 10.50.  10.30 is the IAAF “A” standard so you dare to write him off as “Nah, he’ll never be a world class sprinter” kind of attitude.  Would […]

400 Meter Training Tips from Bill Bowerman

Bill Bowerman is more famous for co-founding NIKE and coaching long distance runners, but he did coach sprinters and field events.  I covered Harry Jerome and Otis Davis in previous articles.
From his book Bill Bowerman’s High-Performance Training for Track and Field (Third Edition) he compares the training patterns of Stan Wright, Jim Bush, and John […]

Speed and Strength Training with Resistance Bands

DYNA-BAND 6ft Green Medium Resistance Band
Resistance bands are great.
They can easily be rolled up to take along for travel.
You can tie 2 together and make a large loop.
You can shorten the length for extra resistance.
Resistance bands are available in a range of colours that relate to their stiffness or resistance. Colour-coding varies between the brands […]

Arm Action in Sprinting

Did anyone notice the arm action in Usain Bolt’s 200m on the straightaway?  And how it slightly differed compared to the last 40 meters of his 100 meters?
This brings up the topic of arm action in sprinting.
Famous Canadian Track Coach Geoff Gowan would say, “You run with your arms on your legs”.
To study arm mechanics […]

Ladies, Increase Your Speed And Endurance While Sculpting Great Toned Muscles

This article is guest blogged by Taylor Ryan from The Art Of Weight Lifting.
Ladies, Increase Your Speed And Endurance While Sculpting Great Toned Muscles!
It doesn’t matter if your goal is to increase your marathon time or to just be able to walk up the stairs without getting winded… in the long run it’s the […]

Nike Innovation in Athletic Training Apparel - from Cotton to Lycra to Dri-FIT to Nike Pro

The following is a press release from Nike.com.  It discusses the evolution from cotton T-shirts, polypropylene  and Lycra, Dri-FIT and today’s Nike Pro.  It’s a long but interesting read.
Nike Training: The Beauty of Obsession
There is a code among Nike Athletes: Devotion is the heart of success, and preparation is the soul of performance. In order […]

Wrist Straps and Weight Belts - Good or Bad?

During my weight training days at McGill, I remember a lot of lifters were using wrist straps and weight belts, including myself.
The weight belt was good for the vanity – it tightened your waist and tucked in your beer belly, plus it inflated your chest, hence the inverted triangle appearance.  The 46” chest with 30” […]

Nike Offers Customization with Air Pegasus+ 26 Running Shoe On NIKEiD.com

NIKE, Inc. today announced the launch of the Air Pegasus+ 26 performance running shoe on NIKEiD.com. The Air Pegasus+ 26 debut on NIKEiD.com marks the most robust customization package ever available for a running shoe by offering customized width, independent left-right sizing, mid sole cushioning options, outsole choices and vast material and color options.
Runners […]

Usain Bolt 10 meter splits, Fastest Top Speed, 2008 vs 2009

On Monday, I posted Usain Bolt’s 20 meter splits courtesy of the IAAF.
Another biomechanical report has come out with 10 meter splits.  You can download the official document here (PDF)
But First, the Disclaimer
When you want to lose or gain weight, you should always weigh yourself with the same scale, the same time of day, with […]

Nike+ Human Race 2009 set for October 24

On August 31, 2008, they had the largest Human Race with almost 800,000 participants Worldwide over a 10 km distance.
Even Carl Lewis got involved by being the unofficial starter in Rome, Italy. I don’t know why he wasn’t in Los Angeles where he belongs. 
My guess is the Jerry Lewis theory… they are […]

2009 World Track and Field Championships - Half-time Report

Here are some thoughts and opinions from the 2009 World Championships in Berlin “half-time report”.
As usual, I’ll try to focus on coaching and training concepts.
Starting Blocks – Back to the Low Blocks
Track and Field at the elite level has gone back and forth from low blocks to high blocks during the last 3 decades.
With the […]

Usain Bolt Splits - 9.69 vs 9.58 - Can He Run Faster?

This is Part 1 of a 2 part series. Click here for Part 2 with 10 meter splits
.
Honestly, I didn’t expect Usain Bolt to run sub 9.60. 
I felt a WR was imminent after watching his SF, and I knew his chest thumping slowdown in Beijing showed me he could run low 9.60.
But a […]

Interview with Alicia Weber - Part 2

Matt Bogdanowicz’s is a sub-Masters middle distance runner who set WR for 1 minute pull-ups (46), 1 hour pull-ups (522), 30 minute pull-ups (433 set in 2006) but missed the 30 minute WR on Oct 2007 (completed 417 when the current record at the time was 442).
In comparison, Alicia Weber is a former University of […]

Why Sprinters should NOT do Double-Leg Squats

There’s an alarming trend of Coaches who do not like the conventional double leg squats with the bar behind your head.
But for those who like to do the double-legged squats, it is recommended to do “front squats” with the bar on your front shoulders and collar bone, because if you fail at a given weight, […]

The 7 Scientific Principles of Training

This is my Decathlon.
In any given week, or mesocycle, we try to cover these 10 types (i.e. events) of training in our routines.
The first 6 are training specific at the track & weight room, and the last 4 are things outside the track.  You can call it intrinsic and extrinsic.  Or call it […]

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