Thursday, 5 May 2011

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How to Weight Train without Weights

Posted: 05 May 2011 01:00 AM PDT

This post is dedicated to people who "don't believe in weights" or don't have access to a weight room due to economic or geographic reasons. 

People are quick  to say Carl Lewis or decathlete Daley Thompson never did weights, but they are quick to add they did "plyometrics".  Allan Wells used the speed bag instead.

The "problem" with body weight exercises is people think immediately of circuit training for their lactate tolerance days.  Why not?  Circuit Training is demanding and you always finished feeling you did a good hard workout.  You can follow some of my circuit training sample workouts here.

If you want to lose fat, get a 6 pack abs, and just get fit, I recommend checking out workouts by Toronto's Craig Ballantyne and his Turbulence Training workouts.   (He did a bootcamp workout one recently, which is the "rage" in fitness gyms today, next to CrossFit).

Weight Training without Weights

When it comes to weight training, people brag think about absolute strength.  Like age, absolute strength is just a number.  Sure, I could bench press 315lb (140kg or 3 plates on each side), but so what?.  It's more than that.  You need dynamic strength.  You need explosive strength.  You need speed strength.

In the weight room, we don't do 1 RM (one rep max) anymore due to potential injuries.  We do doubles or triples.  (i.e. 2 reps or 3 reps).  If you are a high jumper, you want to jump 7 feet once, not jump 1 foot seven times, right?

Doing 3 sets of 50 pushups is a good workout, but it won't translate in the 100 meters (400m, maybe, as it is good for lactate tolerance).  You could try spider man pushups (YouTube video here), but then 3 sets of 20 becomes fairly easy afterwards, at least for me.

Thus a good workout is 8 x 3 reps (triples) with 1 min recovery, but focus on speed.  You can use a GymBoss and go 10 seconds on, 60 seconds off, too.

So you want to do 8 x 3 reps (triples) Push Ups with 1 min recovery, while clapping your hands on the upstroke.  Beginners can simply generate enough force and lift your hands off the mat.  If you are really good, you can try the triple clap pushup (YouTube video here).  You need a lot of force and speed to get your hands off the ground.

Another good explosive speed pushup is landing on boxes shoulder width like Jacko Gill.  Jacko is making headlines as a 16 year Kiwi who recently threw over 20 meters in the 16lb Senior shot put (YouTube video here)   He has double two-hour sessions on weight and strength training a day and "only" 30 minutes a day on shot put technique.  My only complaint is he elected not to continue high school after finishing Year 11.  He may grow as an athlete, and the size of his wallet, but he won't grow as a person.  (YouTube video here)

For legs, you can do the Romanian split squats otherwise known as the Borzov squats in track and field (made famous by Valery Borzov).  This is squatting on one leg with the other leg on a bench behind you.  You can do these alone, with dumbbells or kettlebells, and with a jump up for explosive speed.  (YouTube video here)

If you don't own weights, you can always use a 1 gallon or 4 liter milk jug and fill it water.  That's 4 kilos!  Or buy a 20Kg bag of basmati rice.   At least it won't go to waste.

Complete Speed Training

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Wednesday, 4 May 2011

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How to Make Custom Spikes – Christophe Lemaitre Edition

Posted: 04 May 2011 01:00 AM PDT

In all fairness to yesterday's post with Wallace Spearmon and Saucony, here is Christophe Lemaitre and Asics.

This video is from Eurosport, and shows some of the technology they used to make a better spike to produce faster times.

As I stressed in several articles about the reducing ground contact theory, your emphasis really should be changed to maximizing ground contact with greater force production.  In this case, it's a more rigid spike plate and to correct his feet as they fall inwards.

For more information on ground contact , see Velocity = Contact Length / Ground Contact Time and Why Usain Bolt Runs So Fast?

You'll have to fast forward to the 1:47 mark of the video where they talk about his spikes.

In a sport where hundredths of a second can separate 1st and 4th (i.e. Gold vs. no medal), any technical (and chemical!) advantage can make the difference!

Christophe Lemaitre received his first prototypes of his new spikes this winter which are set to be more suited to training rather than actual competition.

The final model will be supplied for the upcoming summer season, which he is likely to wear at the World Championships in Daegu if everything goes according to plan.

The original video from UK Eurosport can be found here.


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Tuesday, 3 May 2011

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How to Make Custom Spikes – Wallace Spearmon Edition

Posted: 03 May 2011 01:00 AM PDT

It's really a small world. 

When I ran track in the mid 80's, our McGill team competed with Wallace Spearmon Senior.  Fast forward 25 years and now we have Wallace Spearmon Junior on the world scene.  I am sure his success is partially genetic.

Wallace junior had some up and downs starting with his DQ in Beijing, NIKE not renewing his shoe contract, and a change of coaching venues to Texas A&M with Vince Anderson. (for more info on Vince Anderson, see previous article here and podcast here)

Despite all of this, he recently ran an impressive 19.85 200 meters in Rieti last year (video below)

How to Make Custom Spikes

Here's a "candid" video" from Eastbay and Saucony on how they fitted Wallace with a new pair of his branded "Showdowns" spikes.

Note how the maximum number of spike pins used to be 6, which is increased to 11 today.  Pin placement is a matter of preference.  Also, depending on preferences, you can choose half, 3/4 or full plates spikes

For a 60m or 100m, I prefer a rigid spike, but for a 400m, I prefer one with some flexibility as I find the rigidness hurts my Achilles.  It's like a downhill ski boot… the next level up as shock absorbers are your knees.  For a rigid spike, it's your Achilles.


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Nike Unveils Arsenal FC 125th Anniversary Kit

Posted: 03 May 2011 12:48 AM PDT

M42_AP_NIKE_FOOTBALL(A lot of SpeedEndurance.com readers are Arsenal FC fans, so I am posting this on their behalf.  Enjoy!)

The Arsenal home shirt for the 2011-12 season features a new bespoke crest that marks the club's 125th anniversary year – and looks forward to the club's next chapter as the most environmentally-friendly kit Nike has ever produced.

Founded in Woolwich in 1886 and called The Royal Arsenal, the celebratory crest design combines the graphic of the first club crest with the current version in a bold white print and carries the anniversary dates of 1886 and 2011 on the heart of the shirt.

Underneath the celebratory crest sits the word 'FORWARD' as a tribute to the club's first motto.

While the history and tradition of the club is present in the shirt design, the new home kit is made from Nike's ground-breaking recycled polyester – which for the first time includes both the shirt and shorts.

Each complete kit is made up of up to thirteen reclaimed plastic water bottles. This new manufacturing process reduces energy consumption by up to 30% compared to manufacturing traditional polyester and saves nearly 100 million plastic water bottles from being dumped at landfill sites.

The classic design is inspired by the 1970's strips and boasts a clean, refined look with a block red body and white sleeves with red speed stripe detail. The shorts are white with a red speed stripe and the white socks carry the club's founding year 1886 on the back of the fabric.

On the back of the shirt below the neck reads ''Arsenal', while inside the front, on the back of the crest, is a graphic that reads 'Victoria Concordia Crescit', ('Victory Through Harmony'), Arsenal's Latin motto, which was previously featured on earlier versions of their club crest between 1949 and 2002.

The light weight kits (13% lighter than previous versions) actively regulate the players' body temperatures on the pitch to keep them dry and cool at all times through use of Nike Dri-FIT technology. This technology draws sweat away from the player's body through the material where it can evaporate.

Temperature regulation is helped by ventilation zones, consisting of hundreds of tiny laser cut holes from the under arms to the waistband, allowing air to circulate to keep players dry, cool and comfortable.
For the first time the club crest on the front of the shirt is heat transferred, making it even lighter and crucially allowing this area to now be ventilated as well.

The shirt has a new aerodynamic fit this season, now slimmer and more athletic, providing 17% more stretch than the Arsenal shirt of two years ago. While a bonded hem offers a streamlined look that reduces irritation caused by chafing.

To compliment the new match day kit Nike has launched a unique Arsenal line of training and lifestyle clothing for both players and fans to wear on and off the pitch.

The kit and extended line is available for pre-order from May 2 and will be available in stores from June 9. For more information visit nikefootball.com and nikemedia.com for shirt and player images.

Arsenal FC Club History

Theo 1Formed in 1886 by workers at the Woolwich Arsenal Armaments Factory in Woolwich, south London, the club was originally known as Dial Square and then Royal Arsenal.

In 1913 the club moved to north London and became the dominant force in English football during the 1930s winning five League Championships and two FA Cups.

After the Second World War, further League titles were added in 1948 and 1953, as well as the FA Cup in 1950 and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1970.

In the 1970/71 season Bertie Mee led Arsenal to the League and FA Cup double, only the second time in the twentieth century an English club had won both trophies in the same season.

A member of the double-winning side, George Graham returned as manager and would create another great Arsenal side.

In 1989 Arsenal won the title with a dramatic victory against Liverpool at Anfield in the final game of the season, and again in 1991, while also adding the FA Cup in 1993, the League Cup in 1987 and 1993, and the European Cup Winners Cup in 1994.

On arrival at Highbury in 1996 Arsene Wenger was an unknown figure in English football, but over the following fourteen seasons the Frenchman has established himself as one of European football's greatest
ever managers.

In Wenger's first full campaign he guided Arsenal to the League and FA Cup double in 1998, and then repeated the feat in 2002. The FA Cup was successfully defended in 2003.

In the 2003/04 season Wenger's 'Invincibles' became the first English club for over 100 years to win the League title without losing a single game. Another FA Cup was added a year later.

Since 2006 Arsenal have played at the new Emirates stadium where Wenger has created a new and exciting young team, led by captain Cesc Fabregas and the emerging talent of Jack Wilshere.

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Monday, 2 May 2011

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400 meters Speed Reserve and Running Economy

Posted: 02 May 2011 01:00 AM PDT

I came across this old 2007 NY Times article on Alberto Salazar and Running Economy.

While the article applies to distance running, it certainly has a lot of parallel to running the 400 meters.

Let me explain.

With distance runners, running economy determines how fast you can run with the same amount of oxygen coming into your lungs.

The article states Paula Radcliff improved her running economy by 1-3 percent every year for 11 years which resulted in racing at a speed 40 seconds per mile faster.  (That is why I tell everyone years of consistent injury free training is the secret to success… no shortcuts!)

A 1% improvement for a 11.00 second 100 meter sprinter results in a 10.15 in Year 8 and 10.05 in Year 9!  I'll take those numbers any day!

400 meter sprinters

For sprinters, running economy is not that easy to calculate, as you can't measure ATP/CP production or test for the lactic and alactic energy systems easily.  Speed is all about about how fast you can cover ground.

As a baseline, I tell 400m sprinters to run the first 200m about 1 second slower than their 200 meter personal best, and a 1.5 to 2 second differential between the first and second 200m (hence the double-200 plus 3.5 or 4 second formula)

A 22.0 second 200m PR means splits of 23.0 (with blocks) and 25.0 (with a running start).  So a good workout is 2 x 200 meters with 1 minute rest, with the first 200m with blocks or standing rolling start, and the second 200m with a running start. If you want to do a split 500m, then do 300m/200m with 90 seconds rest.

But is running the first 200m 1 second slower really the best advice?

Or having a differential of 2 seconds between the 1st and 2nd 200m splits the best advice?  According to the Berlin 2009: IAAF Biomechanical Analysis, a differential between 1 and 3 seconds is the norm. 

I believe success at the 400 meters all boils down to how fast you can run your first 200m fast, but relaxed.  If you are still struggling (energy costs, biomechanics, etc) over the 1st 200m, then you have to re-adjust your strategy.  Remember that you reach top speed somewhere between 40 and 80 meters, then the race become one long deceleration phase.

A lot of coaches feel endless 200m repeats at medium intensity speed between 80-90% speed (i.e. those butt locking workouts) help with your running economy or help you stay relaxed during high lactate production.  Those coaches are always yelling "relax relax" or "high knees" on intervals 7, 8 and 9.  At #10, everyone's racing!

Some rare athletes like Lee Evans or Innocent Egbunike could run the first 200m within 0.5 seconds of their 200m personal best and still have the strength to finish the 400m.  Lee Evans PB was 20.7 and he ran his first 200m in 21.2, or 0.5 sec slower en route to his 43.86 WR.

Thus, the 22.0 second 200m PR means testing splits of 22.5, 23.0, and 23.5 for a 200m with blocks or standing start.  Your mileage may vary, or should I say, your quarter-mile may vary!

800 meter runners

Certainly running relaxed for the first lap helps!  Especially with a paid rabbit in front of you to break the wind!

But the key is how fast your open 400m time is, and that will determine how efficient that first lap will be in terms of energy cost.  I covered that topic in the article 400m Sprinter Moving up to the 800 meters.  If you like to see some 800 meter split analysis and differentials, read here, here and here.

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Sunday, 1 May 2011

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