T.O.D Coaching Ltd
You have permission to publish this article in websites, electronic publications. Ezines and any media format, as long as the article is published in its entirety, including the resource box, all hyperlinks, (HTML clickable), references and copyright information.
Sprint workouts
It’s the same thing day in day out, you have a plan for your running programme or a session in place and do it repeatedly thinking it will get you fit, or you get to the stage where it feels like a chore rather than enjoyable.
We all know that we have to challenge our bodies in order to progress ourselves both mentally and physically so as a new challenge the Team at T.O.D Coaching has put together the following sprint workouts in order to get you re motivated and put a bit of fun into your workouts. The sets all have three fitness levels so you don’t feel left out in any way.
21’s
You require two lines 10 meters apart, for example the base line to the touch line on a Rugby pitch is approximately 10 meters apart.
The session requires you to complete the set number of sprints in a minute or under see the table below for an example.
Level
Beginner Sprint Reps 13 Sets 4 Time 60 seconds Rest 30
Intermediate Sprint Reps17 Sets 6 Time 60 seconds Rest 20
Advanced Sprint Reps 21 Sets 8 Time 60 seconds Rest 10
3 T’s
The Trauma Triangle
Although markers are required for this session a triangular flowerbed in a local park, running from the soccer pitch side line to the centre spot and out the other side back to the start position constitutes a triangle, or quiet simply three little sticks will do.
Choose a point on the triangle this will be your start point,
On the first repetition complete the circuit as fast as possible this has to be a maximum best effort. Once completed record your time and add the run time to the set rest time as per the table below, this time then gives you a run rest time.
The faster you run the grid under the run rest time the longer the rest period e.g beginner- run rest time 90 seconds, they run it in 60 seconds they have 30 seconds rest before they go again.
Some coaches/ trainers will traditionally double your time to give you the required rest, this is great if you want to complete the set in the same time every circuit. As you progress through the levels distances can be increased and sets can be all out efforts for a set number of rounds.
Run Rest time example
Beginner completes the circuit in 50 seconds table rest time is 40 seconds this equals a total run rest time of 90 seconds.
The runner should complete the circuit in less than 90 seconds the faster they go the longer rest they get.
Beware of hitting the target time each time in this case 90 seconds as this will mean no rest and become an endurance set.
Level
Beginner Sets 8 Run, Rest = Time + 40secs Markers (distance apart) 15
Intermediate Sets 10 Run,Rest, = Time + 30secs Markers (distance apart) 20
Advanced Sets 12 Run,Rest,=Time+20secs Markers (distance apart) 25
Alternatively the triangle could be run as follows with the recovery being the walk jog part of the set, however the more tired an individual gets the longer they take on the recovery phase.
For a beginner they walk the first side of the triangle, jog the second and third.
Level
Beginner Sets 10 Tempo walk, jog ,jog Markers(distance apart) 15
Intermediate Sets 12 Tempo walk jog, sprint Markers (distance apart)20
Advanced Sets 14 Tempo jog, sprint, sprint Markers (distance apart)25
The Number Box
In this session again it requires an all effort on each rep. You will need to find an oblong shaped boxed area such as the 6 and 18 yards boxes on a football pitch or grab four twigs from a tree. The size of area can be increased or decreased at any point initially dependant on your fitness level start with the markers 10 metres apart if using cones or twigs etc.
Number the box as follows
1.Length
2.Width
3.Diagonal
The following table is a guide to how the box should be worked. Remember it is a sprint grid.
Level
Beginner Totals 5,7,9,11,13,15,17 Rest 30secs
Intermediate Totals 12,14,16,18,20,22,24 Rest 20secs
Advanced Totals 17,19,21,23,27,29,31 Rest 10secs
The aim is to run the grid as fast as possible and using the numbered sides attain the totals set out as per your fitness level, rest is jogging on the spot at the point you achieved. It is entirely up to the individual how the box is run in order to achieve the totals set out.
Examples
5- Could be run as 5x1, 2+2+1, 3+2, 3+1+1.
12 could be run as 12x1, 6x2, 4x3, 5+3+2+2
The sets above are meant as a compliment to an existing programme and as an alternative for the days that you can’t do a set for whatever reason. Use them to their fullest capabilities and you will see progressions and have fun completing them.
Note to Editors.
Brian Fernie is a Master Trainer, Triathlon Coach and International presenter; he is the founder and director of T.O.D Coaching Scotland’s Premier Personal Training Company and Bikini Bootcamp® and is a highly regarded trainer and coach.
http://www.tod-coaching.co.uk/
http://www.teamtod.co.uk/
www.brianfernie.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Saturday, 5 July 2008
Run Training
T.O.D Coaching Ltd
You have permission to publish this article in websites, electronic publications. Ezines and any media format, as long as the article is published in its entirety, including the resource box, all hyperlinks, (HTML clickable), references and copyright information.
RUN SESSIONS
Much has been written about running over the years and many forms and types have been developed, the most and common types being Interval, resistance and distance. The following is to give you different ideas regarding types of run training in order to progress you as an individual and ensure that running does not become a set route, time or type. The list is by no means exhaustive and many forms can be mixed together in order to progress and challenge yourself.
Running is a suitable activity for most people. This form of long continuous exercise increases your oxygen uptake and allows your metabolism to function more efficiently. Regular running makes the lungs work more efficiently allowing more air to reach the blood as it is pumped through the lungs. It also increases the number of red blood cells in the blood and muscles allowing more oxygen to be extracted from the air which enters the lungs. Other effects of running training are:
a. drop in pulse rate
b. increase in working capacity of the heart
c. increased pressure on circulatory system will open up underdeveloped arteries
d. new capillary beds will develop (small blood vessels)
e. more efficient blood circulation to and from muscles
TYPES OF RUN TRAINING
FARTLEK TRAINING (SPEED PLAY OR ALTERNATE PACE TRAINING)
The Swedish coach Gosta Holmer introduced this form of training in the early 1930s. Fartlek is done on a soft surface, ideally the pinewood needle surface of a forest path. It is done on undulating ground so that there is plenty of uphill and downhill running.
Fartlek is a combination of great quantities of easy running, interspersed with sprints and periods of resistance running up hills. The advantage of fartlek is that a lot of good solid running can be done without the factor of boredom appearing. Forest tracks wind continually and the view constantly changes. It is controlled by time ie you would go for a 20, 30 or 40 minute as opposed to going out for a 3, 4 or 5 mile run.
It would be wrong to lay down set intervals for types of work in Fartlek session but the following types of running are examples of running that may appear in a Fartlek session:-
a. fast 60m sprint on flat surface
b. steady strides (70 seconds, 400 metres speed) for half mile
c. 40-100 metres fast as possible uphill
d. fast strides for 400 metres downhill
e. light manning with occasional inclusion of 4/5 fast strides for 3 minutes
f. brisk walk for 3 minutes
g. light even paced running with short acceleration spurts 50-60 metres for 5 minutes
h. jogging and rhythmical exercises for 5 minutes
The sprints and uphill work will force the body into periods of anaerobic work resulting in oxygen debt. This debt must be repaid during the low intensity parts of the cycle. The method educates the body to improve its’ oxygen uptake and speed of recovery. The whole session should be joined together by lively jogging and should be enjoyable.
INTERVAL TRAINING
This particular form of ‘punishment’ was developed by Emil Zatopek, the great Czech middle distance runner and was brought to a climax by Britain’s Gordon Pirie. Interval running consists of running a specific number of short distances (between 50-100 metres) in a given time with short rest periods in between. The rest periods are normally spent jogging walking. The main emphasis of this type of conditioning is to develop the heart capacity and to strengthen the heart wall muscle, thereby improving the stroke volume of the heart (the volume of blood pumped at each stroke/beat). To increase the difficulty of the training period, you can:-
a. run the interval in a faster time
b. decrease the recovery distance time
c. increase the number of repetitions
REPETITION TRAINING
A similar type of running to interval running except that the recovery period is long enough for the athlete to get his breath back. The sprinter will do far more of this work than pure interval running. Here, good fast running is wanted in every effort, so the heart and lungs are given a chance to recover before the next run. A rest of 4 to 6 minutes between each run is required.
CONTINUOUS RUNNING
Although interval training develops stamina in the body, it sometimes fails to condition the mind to racing hard over a racing period. Continuous running is done for distances over the normal racing distance at as near possible racing speed. The athlete needs a downhill course with a prevailing wind. He records the best time he can, using a watch and mile markers to estimate progress. During workouts on this basis the athlete is subject to all the mental visions of collapse that he suffers in a race. By fighting his way through these ‘black periods’ in training he makes himself aware of the fact that most fatigue is only in the mind.
TEMPO RUNNING
This type of running can be done anywhere and is normally done for a set period of time or distance, The runner picks a rate that can be maintained at a comfortable pace and maintains this pace throughout, some runners use split times or heart rate monitors to gauge their desired pace E.G 60% of Maximum heart rate.
RESISTANCE RUNNING
Under this category come sand hill, snow and mud running. Running towing equipment such as tyres, trolleys or a partner offering resistance on a harness can also be included as resistance running. In the absence of a harness partners can do the old fashioned methods of
A. Holding onto the waist of the runner and dropping their body weight in a squat position as they offer the resistance, trying to hold the runner back as they move forward.
B. In front of the runner with hands on the shoulders offering resistance as the runner aims to go forward.
PAARLAUF
This form of training is a competitive form of interval running. As in a proper race, two man teams compete against each other. The distance of the race is unspecified, only a minimum and maximum time being given. Thus a race could last from 30 to 45 minutes. After a certain time has elapsed (this time is prior decided but unknown to runners), the referee blows a whistle then for a period of one minute. The winning team is the one who has carried the baton the furthest. The 2 runners can decide how they wish to share the running – they can either run interval quarter miles or every other furlong, jogging across the track to regain the baton.
As a training workout, the number of runners can be increased in a team of 4, 6 or 8. With 8 runners, they could spread out over 400 metres and move with the baton from some 60 metres with about 55 seconds rest before the next effort.
CROSS COUNTRY
The mental stimulus and the physical value of cross country running and racing are invaluable to the middle distance runner. The lengths of the courses vary fro 3 to 10 miles and usually become longer as the season progresses. (For this reason, the miler/3 miler is advised to curtail cross country racing in March by this time, the courses will be too long and in any case it will be time for the athlete to consider returning to the track for most of his work-outs). Cross country running is invaluable for the triathlete a sit aids in core stability and strengthens ankle and knees owing to the nature of the surfaces this type of running covers.
ACCELERATION RUNNING
This type of running can cause confusion and some may think it is a play on words in relation to fartlek. This is not the case and is a recognised and useful form of training. Again pick a distance or set time the main aim here is to start of slow and progress to full race pace prior to the end of the set period. For example a 15 minute run may be split into 30 second segments with the last two minutes being near threshold or race pace as possible.
Alternatively this form of training is used by coaches in football; athletics etc in order to test the acceleration speed of athletes, a normal set for this would be 3 x 30 meter sprints. Take the average of the 3 sprints in order to get an indication of your acceleration speed.
Note to Editors.
Brian Fernie is a Master Trainer, Triathlon Coach and International presenter; he is the founder and director of T.O.D Coaching Scotland’s Premier Personal Training Company and Bikini Bootcamp® and is a highly regarded trainer and coach.
www.tod-coaching.co.uk
www.teamtod.co.uk
www.brianfernie.blogspot.com/
You have permission to publish this article in websites, electronic publications. Ezines and any media format, as long as the article is published in its entirety, including the resource box, all hyperlinks, (HTML clickable), references and copyright information.
RUN SESSIONS
Much has been written about running over the years and many forms and types have been developed, the most and common types being Interval, resistance and distance. The following is to give you different ideas regarding types of run training in order to progress you as an individual and ensure that running does not become a set route, time or type. The list is by no means exhaustive and many forms can be mixed together in order to progress and challenge yourself.
Running is a suitable activity for most people. This form of long continuous exercise increases your oxygen uptake and allows your metabolism to function more efficiently. Regular running makes the lungs work more efficiently allowing more air to reach the blood as it is pumped through the lungs. It also increases the number of red blood cells in the blood and muscles allowing more oxygen to be extracted from the air which enters the lungs. Other effects of running training are:
a. drop in pulse rate
b. increase in working capacity of the heart
c. increased pressure on circulatory system will open up underdeveloped arteries
d. new capillary beds will develop (small blood vessels)
e. more efficient blood circulation to and from muscles
TYPES OF RUN TRAINING
FARTLEK TRAINING (SPEED PLAY OR ALTERNATE PACE TRAINING)
The Swedish coach Gosta Holmer introduced this form of training in the early 1930s. Fartlek is done on a soft surface, ideally the pinewood needle surface of a forest path. It is done on undulating ground so that there is plenty of uphill and downhill running.
Fartlek is a combination of great quantities of easy running, interspersed with sprints and periods of resistance running up hills. The advantage of fartlek is that a lot of good solid running can be done without the factor of boredom appearing. Forest tracks wind continually and the view constantly changes. It is controlled by time ie you would go for a 20, 30 or 40 minute as opposed to going out for a 3, 4 or 5 mile run.
It would be wrong to lay down set intervals for types of work in Fartlek session but the following types of running are examples of running that may appear in a Fartlek session:-
a. fast 60m sprint on flat surface
b. steady strides (70 seconds, 400 metres speed) for half mile
c. 40-100 metres fast as possible uphill
d. fast strides for 400 metres downhill
e. light manning with occasional inclusion of 4/5 fast strides for 3 minutes
f. brisk walk for 3 minutes
g. light even paced running with short acceleration spurts 50-60 metres for 5 minutes
h. jogging and rhythmical exercises for 5 minutes
The sprints and uphill work will force the body into periods of anaerobic work resulting in oxygen debt. This debt must be repaid during the low intensity parts of the cycle. The method educates the body to improve its’ oxygen uptake and speed of recovery. The whole session should be joined together by lively jogging and should be enjoyable.
INTERVAL TRAINING
This particular form of ‘punishment’ was developed by Emil Zatopek, the great Czech middle distance runner and was brought to a climax by Britain’s Gordon Pirie. Interval running consists of running a specific number of short distances (between 50-100 metres) in a given time with short rest periods in between. The rest periods are normally spent jogging walking. The main emphasis of this type of conditioning is to develop the heart capacity and to strengthen the heart wall muscle, thereby improving the stroke volume of the heart (the volume of blood pumped at each stroke/beat). To increase the difficulty of the training period, you can:-
a. run the interval in a faster time
b. decrease the recovery distance time
c. increase the number of repetitions
REPETITION TRAINING
A similar type of running to interval running except that the recovery period is long enough for the athlete to get his breath back. The sprinter will do far more of this work than pure interval running. Here, good fast running is wanted in every effort, so the heart and lungs are given a chance to recover before the next run. A rest of 4 to 6 minutes between each run is required.
CONTINUOUS RUNNING
Although interval training develops stamina in the body, it sometimes fails to condition the mind to racing hard over a racing period. Continuous running is done for distances over the normal racing distance at as near possible racing speed. The athlete needs a downhill course with a prevailing wind. He records the best time he can, using a watch and mile markers to estimate progress. During workouts on this basis the athlete is subject to all the mental visions of collapse that he suffers in a race. By fighting his way through these ‘black periods’ in training he makes himself aware of the fact that most fatigue is only in the mind.
TEMPO RUNNING
This type of running can be done anywhere and is normally done for a set period of time or distance, The runner picks a rate that can be maintained at a comfortable pace and maintains this pace throughout, some runners use split times or heart rate monitors to gauge their desired pace E.G 60% of Maximum heart rate.
RESISTANCE RUNNING
Under this category come sand hill, snow and mud running. Running towing equipment such as tyres, trolleys or a partner offering resistance on a harness can also be included as resistance running. In the absence of a harness partners can do the old fashioned methods of
A. Holding onto the waist of the runner and dropping their body weight in a squat position as they offer the resistance, trying to hold the runner back as they move forward.
B. In front of the runner with hands on the shoulders offering resistance as the runner aims to go forward.
PAARLAUF
This form of training is a competitive form of interval running. As in a proper race, two man teams compete against each other. The distance of the race is unspecified, only a minimum and maximum time being given. Thus a race could last from 30 to 45 minutes. After a certain time has elapsed (this time is prior decided but unknown to runners), the referee blows a whistle then for a period of one minute. The winning team is the one who has carried the baton the furthest. The 2 runners can decide how they wish to share the running – they can either run interval quarter miles or every other furlong, jogging across the track to regain the baton.
As a training workout, the number of runners can be increased in a team of 4, 6 or 8. With 8 runners, they could spread out over 400 metres and move with the baton from some 60 metres with about 55 seconds rest before the next effort.
CROSS COUNTRY
The mental stimulus and the physical value of cross country running and racing are invaluable to the middle distance runner. The lengths of the courses vary fro 3 to 10 miles and usually become longer as the season progresses. (For this reason, the miler/3 miler is advised to curtail cross country racing in March by this time, the courses will be too long and in any case it will be time for the athlete to consider returning to the track for most of his work-outs). Cross country running is invaluable for the triathlete a sit aids in core stability and strengthens ankle and knees owing to the nature of the surfaces this type of running covers.
ACCELERATION RUNNING
This type of running can cause confusion and some may think it is a play on words in relation to fartlek. This is not the case and is a recognised and useful form of training. Again pick a distance or set time the main aim here is to start of slow and progress to full race pace prior to the end of the set period. For example a 15 minute run may be split into 30 second segments with the last two minutes being near threshold or race pace as possible.
Alternatively this form of training is used by coaches in football; athletics etc in order to test the acceleration speed of athletes, a normal set for this would be 3 x 30 meter sprints. Take the average of the 3 sprints in order to get an indication of your acceleration speed.
Note to Editors.
Brian Fernie is a Master Trainer, Triathlon Coach and International presenter; he is the founder and director of T.O.D Coaching Scotland’s Premier Personal Training Company and Bikini Bootcamp® and is a highly regarded trainer and coach.
www.tod-coaching.co.uk
www.teamtod.co.uk
www.brianfernie.blogspot.com/
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