Sprint training and coaching

Training for sprinting is a committed undertaking. These articles will aid your sprint training and help you improve your sprinting techniques so you can run faster… To browse our library of free sports training articles, browse using the categories on the left or use the search box.

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Articles

We'll pay you to ask questions

Got a question about sport? We'll pay you to ask it, and pay more to answer others' questions!

Sports Training Exercises And Techniques To Increase Your Jumping Ability

Increase Your Jumping Ability: Tips To Help Your Sports Training

Acceleration Training for Peak Performance

learn how to increase speed to make a quick getaway

Building Speed and Endurance

Building Speed Before Endurance: time to turn convention on the head?

whole body vibration

Whole body vibration: no use for trained sprinters

modafinil

Modafinil: Banned drug works as ergogenic aid

fast-twitch muscles

Fast-twitch muscles: Twitch and you're gone - all you need to know about developing fast-twitch muscle fibre for speed, power and strength

sodium bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate and sprint performance

speed | age | sprint training

Speed and age - The bad news is that speed declines with age; the good news is that you can arrest, even reverse, this degenerative process

hamstring exercise

Hamstring exercise for hamstrings of steel

overspeed training

Overspeed training: Downhill sprinting, elastic cord sprinting and the concept of 'overspeed' training

uphill sprinting

Uphill sprinting

powerbag training

The Powerbag

speed agility quickness training | SAQ training

Speed agility quickness - SAQ training

soccer fitness training

Soccer fitness training: Endurance training boosts performance in the field

swimming stroke technique training

Swimming Stroke Technique Training: Here's an overview of the basics of technique for all strokes (plus a bit extra) and specific training needs

Muscle fibre types

Muscle Fibre Types: Why tapering after intense training boosts sprinting speed

Upper body

Upper Body: How to develop the perfect sprinter's upper body, thanks to Linford Christie.

hill running | strength training

Hill running for strength training - Uphill sprints boost hip power

Sprinters | sleep

Sprinters and Sleep: If you're a sprinter, you needn't worry about losing a night's sleep.

Creatine

Creatine now shown to boost performance in trained sprinters

Wheel chair athletes training

Wheel Chair Athletes Training: A strength and sprint training programme for pre-elite wheelchair athletes

Caffeine

More evidence that caffeine can benefit sprint athletes

Humidity | performance

Humidity and Performance

sprinters muscle composition | distance runners muscle composition

Sprinters and distance runners muscle composition: why sprinters have a natural advantage

Caffeine

Caffeine proves less of a help to team sports sprinters

strength training advice

Strength Training Advice: Is strength training really beneficial for endurance athletes? Here's a sport-by-sport review

Swim Training | swimming

Swim Training

Wheelchair athletes training

Wheelchair Athletes Training: A strength and sprint training programme for pre-elite wheelchair athletes

Fitness for football

Fitness For Football: Endurance training boosts performance in the field

Boosting vo2 max

Boosting Vo2 Max: Now that winter's coming, here's a useful programme for boosting your VO2max.

Questions

Sprinting and Acceleration

Do you have any books or articles on elite sprint hurdle drills and model training sessions???

Is it unhealthy to lose 8 lbs in 8 days maintaining a healthy diet ?

I have a track meet in about 8 days is it possible for me to lose 8lbs in this amount of time and would it be healthy as long as I still maintain a healthy diet ?

What do you think of the Peak Performance Premium area? (!)

As the main provider of information in this area, I'd like to find out what you think about the videos and the articles in particular.

What does "Whey Protein" do for you?

I know people who out it in fruit smoothies or energy drinks, but wat is it and what does it do?

Effect of gender stereotypes on sporting goals/achievements?

any thoughts towards this topic? do you know of any articles i can read up on? thanks so much for your time

What muscles are used to push back for increasing running speed?

The quadriceps muscles contract hard across the front of the knee to pull the lower leg forward.

Why do my achilles hurt so much after a 200m race?

I am a 46 yo masters, i dont do much in any single training eg 10x10m,4x25m,3x50,2x75,1x100,1x400 and stretch well before calfs,hemmys,quads,glutes but still get pain next morning and after a race.Can

breaking 50 seconds in 400m

hey my name is adam im 13 years old. my pb in 400m is 52.6 seconds. is it possible for me to break 50 seconds in a years time. so when im 14.

800m

Im a freshman in high school with a PR of 2:06.96 for the 800m that i achieved yesterday.

Can I get rid of excess skin?

Last year i lost a lot of weight quite quickly due to health reasons. I have now put sme weight back on but not all of it.

What is a good way to prepare in the last weeks prior to a track meet?

I am running the 400m and 200m I am wondering: What types of food should be eaten and what one should do in the last week or two prior to the competition to increase the chances of performing to thei

What is a good frame of mind to be in before and during a sprint ?

How shall one feel emotionally during these times ? What mind state should one posses ?

How should the 100m dash pan out?

From out of thew blocks to finishing. Also maybe what should be done right before the call'up, to get me in the right frame of mind for the race

How can I train to keep my maximum speed throughout a 400m sprint ?

In 8 weeks I have a city track meet and I would like to win sooo... I run the 400m how can I ensure I keep my maximum speed from the end of acceleration to the finish line ?

How to hit sprinting peak?

Im 12 and i've got 2 days to go before I go on our athletics tour. i need to hit my peak for the trials. Any tips for excerices to help me peak.

Do ankle weights help sprinting?

.......What exercises can I do with them

Does landing on your toes add to speed and make the landing softer?

Coaches teach that landing on the toes add speed and make the landing softer.

Does tilting your upper body forward add to your running speed?

Coaches teach that tilting the upper body forward adds speed. The tilt is described two ways. 1. Bending at the hip. 2. Slanted in a straight line head to toe.

Does pushing into the ground harder toss you higher or forward faster

One technique being taught is to toe off. Everyone toes off, so it is not clear what they mean by toe off to run faster.

Reactivity

How should I train to improve my reactive times?

Distance for hurdles

How much apart should each hurdle be from each other?

Technique for hurdles.

What is the proper technique for jumping hurdles

Average time

Whats the average time for a 14 year old on the 100 meter sprint?

Track and Field...

How can I increase my running time, without going to a gym.

Energy tablets

As a teenager would they affect your hormones?

How do I improve the strength in my legs?

I need to improve the strength in my legs for the triple jump and athletics

How do I improve my fitness fast?

I need to improve my fitness asap......

How to improve my calf strengh...

I want to know how to improve my calf strength

How to improve speed...

I want to know hoe to train to increase my speed for the one hundred meter sprint.

What kind of socks do you wear when your wearing sprinter shoes?

what do pro's use underneath their sprinting shoes?

What is the best way to train for a judo tournament?

Our matches are 5 minutes long with no breaks, up to 8 matches in the tournament. I am trying to find the best exercises to get us ready for the tournament.

Abs?

I have dificulty shaping the lower part of my stomach. What exercise can I do to reach that area.

How do you tell shin splints?

How do you tell if you have shin splints. I have a pain in my left leg above my ankle, but I don't know what it is.

How do I loosen my hamstrings?

I have really tight ham strings and it affects me physically. What is a good stretch or exercise that will help me to loosen them.

Stamina?

I practised sprinting today and in the 100m i could fell myself losing energy at about 80m In the 200m I was losing stamina with about 50m to go. What can I do to stop this.

what would be a good programme for the 100m and 200m sprint?

Im 12 and my pb in 60m: 8.8 100m: 13.1 200m: 29.2

Sprint faster

I need to be able to sprint 50 meters very quickly. My sport being paintball, i have to have my head down keeping a low profile.

Looking for brief information on types of training.

Components of fitness. Advantages and disadvantages of Fartlek,Interval,Continuous,Weight Training, Flexibility Training?

Are the eas myplex drinks good?

is eas myoplex good for your body does it have any side effects any one tried it yet?

Does tilting your upper body forward add to your running speed

I can tilt my upper body forward and stand still or run backward.

Does pushing into the ground harder toss you higher or forward faster?

When I stand still (balanced) and push hard into the ground I jump high not forward. I can't push back at the ground while balanced to start running.

Easyest Way To Lose Fat

Im a 13 boy and im 13st and 5"7. Is there A way to lose weight without dieting?

What are the most effective sprinting exercises/drills for beginners?

What are the most effective sprinting exercises/drills for beginners?

Hi byan how can i become an athete?

I really need to be an athlete, due to anspiration (realistic)i would really like to achieve. during high school, i ran for my school and i think i really want to be the person i want to be.

Des resting heart rate affect your performance?

i am a 22 year old male having played soccer my whole life, my resting heart rate is about 68 beats per minute, this is quite high compared to other elite athletes, would this affect my performance, c

What happens if you use 100m 200m shoes

if your shoes are for 100-200m race what will happen if you use it in a 400 m race?

Whats the best Sprinting shoe?

I'm doing 100m 200m and 400m does any one know the best shoes for these distances?

How to get a faster turn over in the shortest period of time?

turn over is to pretty much move faster( speed training )

Is there a program out there for a player to develop speed?

I'm 6-4 220 pounds but i run a 5.6 in the 40 yard dash is there someone who can tell me what i can do to get this number down i work really hard at it but i'm just not seeing any results if anyone ca

How accurate is the beep test as an indicator of VO2 max?

I'm doing a research assignment. I have run tests with the beep test but can't do any any actual VO2 max testing because i don't have access to a sports lab.

Tips for sprint endurance?

I am 12 and I sometimes feel tired after sprinting 40m. This is what may be affecting my 200m. 60m-8.8 100m-13.1 200m-29.1

How do you condition fast twitch fibres?

I hear that is what makes you faster. This is because I am looking to get a faster time in my 100m and 200m

800m training

Last year (8th grade) I ran a 2:16.39 in the 800m . This year I am a freshman in high school and hope to drop that time as much under 2:10 as possible.

Do Abs help sprinting?

I just wondered.

what is the proper technique for sprinting

I have a general idea of how to sprint however i think my form may help decrease my time.

Do you need supplements/creatine to increase your speed by 1 or 2sec?

Im trying to run 11.00 flat or less this year and currently running 12 seconds for athletics 100m sprint.PLEASE HELP PLEASE!!!

Looking for a 10 week training program for sprinters.

I am a relatively new high school track coach. I only have about 10 weeks to maximize an athletes performance. Most of the materials I have read are dealing with much longer time frames for training.

Leg Strength?

How can I get my leg's to be a little bit stronger?

How can I get faster times in 100m and 200m

I am 12 and last yr I ran the 100m in 13.11 and 200m 29.0,(rubbish) I want to be able to get low 12s next yr but sometimes I just get tired, intensley sprinting for about 40m.

Which trainers are best?

I am having problems with feet, lower legs and knees... i think its down to my trainers as they are over a year old and look used.

I need advise on training intensity,load and quality

I am 25 of age now. Fastest hundred I ran was 10:80 age of 21. Havent run since 2003 Dec.I am getting back.Planning to have a long winter then, compete in summer.

Which Treadmill?

I know this is a difficult one to answer because their seems to be thousands on the market!

What is the best diet for a football player before and after a match?

I am an amateur footballer but try my hardest and want to achieve what i can at this level and need to do whatever i can for optimum performance eg best training best diet best lifestyle.

I play a sport called gaelic, I need power speed an agility?

I am quicker than average 100m in 12.75secs but i like 2 lower this by 1 sec was wondering if any1 has any tips

Please can someone recommend a UK expert in ITB syndrome?

I developed ITB syndrome nearly two years ago. The injury was triggered by running and presented as lateral knee pain whilst running. However, the pain has also always been present on walking.

Sprinting coach wanted in the Huddersfield area

My son plays rugby but needs to improve his sprinting speed as this is letting a good player down. We believe that with some one to one sprint training will lift his game massively.

Do you have a question for our community?

PP Online has over 10,000 registered users, all of them keen sportsmen and women, including many coaches, personal trainers and sports scientists.

Blogs

John's blog

As many of you will know track and field is my main sport of choice for participation.

Ideal Running Form: Pose Running versus Chi Running – Theory & Evidence

Advice from coaches and personal fitness trainers can be classified into two categories; a theory based approach or an evidence based approach.

Have shoulder pains?

Have shoulder pains? You came to the right place.

Abs

I have been doing exercises for my abs but they are just now showing what can I do? I even have little fat.

Training

I started training two months ago and I have really noticed a boost in my fitness,all you need is time and dedication.

The 7 Deadly Sins of Lifting

“The 7 Deadly Sins of Lifting” this is another installment from A. Jay of a series of motivational articles.

NLP courses

Most people would agree the hardest muscle to get into shape is the one 'between the ears.'

NLP sports courses

next NLP Sports Practitioner Course that we run here at Mindtree Ltd.

How to warm up before training and event

TRAINING ADVICE Warm ups Warming up prior to exercise, helps lower your risk of injuries and the aches and pains that come with exercise.

Drug testing what's out there a physiotherapists view point

Testing Athletes for Drug Use Why do some “athletes” try to enhance their performances on the track and field by taking drugs?

Nick's Strength Q&A!

Here is the first and not the last instalment of Nick Mitchell’s long awaited All Strength Q&A.

Are you making these mistakes as an Athlete?

Don’t get me wrong nobody’s perfect, especially me, many of these ideas came from my “Stupidity”, a rollercoaster of discovery, injuries and re-injury, does that sound about right?

Sports Medicine Foot and Ankle Rehabilitation

This article was a long time coming. After writing and then scraping and re-writing it is a good way to describe this.

shin splints

INTRODUCTION TO SHIN SPLINTS

The Insider’s Secrets to a Flat Stomach

Hey regular blog readers myself and Nick sat down and and had a conversation, long story short this article was born.

Running technique

You can't take one step forward to walk or run while you remain centered over your feet/foot. You must fall and lift to start and continue. This according to Jack Nirenstein

Rotational Carbohydrates "RO-CHO" ?

Rotational Carbohydrates "RO-CHO" Article by Steve Blades. It is all about carbohydrate rotation for ultimate performance.

Dont Be a "Hard Learner"!

Another great read by Steve Blades aka "Marmite". If you are not making gains in the gym or the track this will change everything completely.

You are a Beginner, READ THIS!

A great,long article about everything on general bodybuilding ,training, nutrition and supplementation as a beginner.

The Right Resolutions!

A great new update to hit Rawgrip.com, a great article for all of the new found health freaks this year.

Squat Rx Video Creator Interview

If you are a serious lifter you must have heard of the “Squat Rx” video series all over the net. The Videos are available on YouTube.

How Focused Are You at the Gym?

Sean discusses The Top 10 Reasons why you are slacking in the Gym and How to prevent this. He exposes some great Tips how to make your training sessions more productive for better end results.

How To Increase Bench Press

Finally an article created for all you serious weight shifters. C Pikey discuses the truth about A massive Bench Press and gives some tips How To Improve your Weak Bench.

Glycemic Index in Athletes and Weight management

An article about the glycemic index of carbohydrates pertains directly to athletes and their performance.

Protein intake in Athletes

A new article by Michael Nystrom discussing the protein intake amounts in athletes. Athlete Protein intake article

Introduction to Tai Chi Training

This article is merely a brief and light hearted introduction to Tai Chi. My next article will focus upon how the key principles of Tai Chi can be used to develop optimum sports performance.

HELP!!!!

America's growing health crisis.

Fish oil article

A good article about fish oils and the recommended intake in an athlete, a great read. Fish oil article Or

Food Nutrition Article

I finally finished a nutrition article which will help any athlete to peak performance. It covers everything from protein intake for an athlete and how to loose some extra pounds.

Training Methods for the Development of Power

The other day I came across a presentation a friend and I did at university. Thought I'd share it with you all.

Catalano (Sam) All about tennis coaching.

Hi seeking info to implement into my tennis coaching to increase the development of my young players, all suggestions greatly appreciated. For e.g simple ways to understand a kick serve.

Peak Performance Relaunches!

It's a very exciting day for us today, because we've had our first major relaunch in 7 years.

Write for Peak Performance

When we set up the new PP Online site, one of our biggest aims was to create a place where anyone with a passion for sport could share their opinions and experiences.

Jones to admit steriod abuse

According to Amy Shipley writing for the Washington Post, Marion Jones will admit to using the infamous THG steriod in the lead up to the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Cutting It

Many coaches, trainers and scientists assume that athletes know how to run correctly. WRONG! Many athletes don’t.

Resistance Training for Speed Development

Let’s get straight to the point. Acceleration and top speed running are different for several reasons. One such difference is technique.

Red Bull gives you wings!

Who drinks red bull or other caffeine beverages before they compete?

The Autonomic Nervous System and Repeated Sprints

The autonomic nervous system or ANS is made up of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves.

Is this the fastest man in Rugby Union?

Bryan Habana is the winger for the South African national rugby team. In the current standings, after one game, he’s the top try scorer in the rugby world cup with four tries.

Powell Breaks 100-m World Record (again)

For those of you who are unaware, the world athletics championships bronze medallist, Asafa Powell, has smashed his own world 100-m record by 0.03-s!

Can endurance training aid multiple sprint performance?

What are multiple sprints? Well, in team games players are required to sprint intermittently throughout the match and thus multiple times.

Taking a Step Backwards to Move Forwards

Sometimes stepping backward to move forward isn’t totally bad. As a young soccer player, probably about 8 years a go, our coach brought in a “speed expert”.

Speed Training for Young Athletes Part 2

The last entry introduced the topic of sensitive periods for speed development. Today I want to talk about when this period occurs and how to identify sensitive periods.

Speed Training for Young Athletes Part 1

Any training programme designed for young athletes should take into account speed development.

Gay Takes World Title

Congratulations goes to Tyson Gay who yesterday won the IAAF World Athletics Championships 100-m in 9.85-s.

Sprint vs Plyometric Training

The buzz word within sports performance these days is “plyometric” training and the use plyometric training has become widespread in many sports performance programmes.

Tyson Gay to make assault on 100-m world record

In the Norwich Union London Grand Prix tomorrow evening Tyson Gay will attempt to break the World 100-m record jointly held by Asafa Powell and Justin Gatlin of 9.77-s.

Interview with Barry Ross

Barry Ross is the Author of “Underground Secrets to Running Faster” a book which has gained a lot of attention in coaching circles over the past few years. http://www.bearpowered.com.

The allure of steroids

Steroids are banned, dangerous drugs. DON’T TAKE THEM.

Can endurance training hinder strength development

The literature from scientific research indicates that some types of endurance training can indeed inhibit strength, power and speed development if performed simultaneously.

Gluteus troubles

I had a wonderful training run yesterday.

Excuse the delay

Excuses! Excuses! No, reasons let’s say, not excuses, reasons for losing the plot these last few weeks. And my apologies for it.

A Very Special Service for the Over 35s

Here’s the best way to find fitness, health, speed, staying power and personal confidence for those who’ve arrived at man’s estate (women’s included, as ever).

Nice one! – getting fit from your Sunday roast

A roast chicken dinner will show you exactly what sort of athlete you are.

Videos

Zig Zag Sprints

A useful agility drill to develop acceleration, deceleration and rapid changes in direction whilst sprinting.