I am a 15 year old sprinter, when should i start using weights in the gym?
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16th Feb '07, 2:47pm
I am a 15 year old sprinter, and run for a club. I train 3 times a week down at the track and also do 1 circuit a week. Last year at u15 I reached the English schools a national track and field championship at 200m which was my target for that year. I am now I first year u17 and most of the people I am competing against are much bigger physically. Is it too early for me to start using the gym and doing weights and if so when should I start? Also is training 3 times a week enough or should I start doing more to help me develop? Please could you give me some advice on these issues, it would be greatly appreciated!
you should start now. 15 is
16th Feb '07, 4:39pm
you should start now. 15 is a perfect age to do weights
Barca, that is a pretty poor
16th Feb '07, 11:21pm
Barca, that is a pretty poor post giving no real detail.
Big-foot - it is fine to start weight training at 15 however you should really do it under instruction. Weights should not be maximal and you should be focussing more on technique. Learning the olympic lifts at your age will benefit you greatly in future years.
M
You should have started a
17th Feb '07, 7:27am
You should have started a year ago using bars and previously your own body weight, animal walks etc.
coachsherwood
It's the right time
12th Jul '07, 12:20pm
As I was thought at my university, it's the right time for you to start with weights, you just have to follow few simple rules:
1. start with small weights (of course)
2. you have to obtain joint flexibility so that you'll be able to perform exercises in full range of movement. For example: squats are among most common exc. and to perform them right your heals should be firmly on the floor. It's impossible if Achilles Tendon is stiff. Yeah, I know, people use something to place under the hills but I think it's more secure to stand with both feet fully on the ground.
3. You should pay a lot of attention to trunk muscles. Although your legs run, the trunk is important because it's connection between limbs. And sprinters movements are energetic, fast, twitching. Therefore, your back and abdominal muscles have to be prepared. And soon you'll put some heavy weights on your shoulder. Your back will carry it as well as legs.
4. It's important to strengthen tendons first. I'm not quite sure, but I think it's done by lifting bigger mass but very small amplitudes and many repetitions.
5. Someone already mentioned the technique.
And take it easy, easy. It's better to be the slowest one at the moment, than to be broken in time.