The ability to run fast is pretty much determined genetically by your predominant muscle type -- the fast twitch fibers and how much of them you have been blessed with.
Even so, that's not to say that you can't improve on what you already have. Of course, training to run fast means running fast in training . . . but on top of that, most serious sprinters now do some sort of weight training to enhance their power and strength -- and hopefully their speed.
Because all athletes have individual needs, a generic program like this one will need to be modified for age, gender, goals, facilities and so on. However, here's a program, starting out, to get you up to speed in the sprint world.
General Preparation
The general preparation phase should provide all-round muscle and strength conditioning in the early pre-season. You will probably be doing sprint training on the track as well, so you will need to fit it in with your track work. As a general rule, and for all the following programs, don't do the workouts prior to track work. Do them later in the day after track or on a separate day if possible. Nothing you do should limit your ability to train fast on the track.Frequency - 2 to 3 sessions per week
Type - general conditioning
Exercises - 9 exercises, 3 sets of 12, plus warm-up and cool-down in the Basic Strength and Muscle program. (I favor the Romanian type deadlift rather than full deadlift in this program.)
Rest between sets - 30-90 seconds
Specific Preparation
In this phase, you will focus more on the development of strength and power. This is the period, later pre-season, leading up to the start of competition.Frequency - 2 to 3 session per week
Type - strength and power
Exercises - 5 sets of 6: Romanian deadlift, incline bench press, hang power clean, pullups, squats -- plus combo crunches at 3 sets of 12
Rest between sets - 3-5 minutes, except for crunches
Competition Phase
The aim of this phase is the maintenance of strength and power. Track training and competition should dominate. Prior to the start of competition, take 7-10 days break from heavy weights work at the end of Specific Preparation while maintaining your track work. Weight training in the competition phase should play essentially a maintenance role.Frequency - 1 to 2 sessions per week
Type - power; lighter loads and faster execution than in the specific preparation phase
Exercises - 3 sets of 10, rapid concentric movement, 40% to 60% of 1RM. Squats, power hang clean, Romanian deadlift. Crunches.
Rest between sets - 1-2 minutes
Summary
- Be sure to warm up and cool down prior to weight training.
- Don't train through injuries, acute or chronic.
- Don't sacrifice a track session for a weights session -- unless you're treating or recovering from an injury with weights work.
- If you have a knowledgeable coach, be guided by him or her regarding the details of your program.
- Take at least a few weeks off at the end of the season to recover after a hard season of training and competing.
- If you're new to weight training, read up on the fundamentals before you start.
Paul Rogers is a masters sprinter with a bronze medal from the Pan Pacific Masters Games.
