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 VCB.
That’s not the point of this article.
What I’m trying to emphasize is before you embark on any resistance exercise, whether its a sled, ropes or human intervention, ask yourself what are the goals and have a clear set of instructions.
I’m not saying DONT DO sleds… I’m not saying DONT USE harnesses… we actually use them at our training center, but we have a clear concise training plan. You can read more about resistance running with sleds and isorobic ropes.
I’ve seen too many garbage workouts with sleds (or anything else for that matter) just for the sake of doing the workout. Usually the workouts are copied from someone else.
Once technique has been compromised, STOP the workout. Go out and do some 6-10 x 100m Tempo strides on the grass surface and call it the day.
One of them is similar to the Clyde Hart “H” Drill, which you can see from my 2007 USATF video.
The problem is how many will see that video and try it just because they see her doing it. No clear instructions, or no clear results.
My caveat is “imitation is the greatest form of flattery” and young athletes will watch these videos and copy them.
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I agree, too many people will see that and try it just because she is doing it. But that advice should extend to any training program. In track all anyone once to know is what do they do, but never want to know the how and the why.
How many times, have we heard that today workouts is for strength or whatever and the next line is how much running is to be done and how much recovery.
Then at race time you wonder why things did not go well and everybody is surprised.
The biggest problem is the lack of technical instructions.
The other thing is if that looking at that frame of video, her body is not pushing off the ground leg but standing on it as she lifts her knee.
Her but is sticking out and she is bending at her waist.
So how much is that really helping her?
Would she be just as fast or faster without sled training?
so youve said what you think we shouldnt do, but where can we find what we should do. everyone isnt a world class sprinter and might be cross training for another sport so what advice can you give on how to design a sled workout
@charles, Here is a good recent article that explains sled training:
https://speedendurance.com/2012/07/11/developing-acceleration-assisted-resisted-training-methods/