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Sprint Workouts
One of the things I teach at my workshops is that technique is a variable element. That is, the precise execution of technique is heavily dependant on one's speed.
One thing I have been made increasingly aware of is that many skaters - even good ones - don't know much about sprint training. They all know what a sprint is: it's about going fast. But sprints vary in intensity, duration/distance, and initial speed. Because of this variety, sprint training can quickly become a complex subject. So this article sets out to help educate skaters about how to train their sprint, as well as understand some of the basic physiology and methodology behind this important - but often neglected - form of training.
One of the things I teach at my workshops is that technique is a variable element. That is, the precise execution of technique is heavily dependant on one's speed. Whether it is constant, increasing, and just how fast one is traveling when the sprint begins. We describe speed in 3 broad categories:
1) Constant speed - quite simply, a uniform velocity
2) Acceleration - the rate of change of speed i.e. increasing speed
3) Sprint speed - defined as maximum velocity.
Speed training is designed to facilitate one's ability to go fast. When it comes to sprinting the only way to improve your sprint is to actually practice it under a variety of conditions. For example, sprinting at maximum effort from an initial speed of 25 km/hr is quite different than the same effort when beginning from 40 km/hr. Or how about a sprint from a standing or rolling start? The mechanics are completely different, and yet this is an equally important ability to train. Skaters need to develop their sprint and acceleration across the entire spectrum of velocity and distance, so variety is key!
opyright © 2004 Barry Publow. All Rights Reserved.
