Saturday, December 17, 2011

Training during winter break

What you do for training during break is more about where you can train and what you have available than following some type of prescription I provide. So, the guidance here is general.

In a given week, it would be good to get a session of each of the following:
  • Speed (acceleration and/or max velocity)
  • Stamina (sprints of 20 to 40 seconds)
  • Strength (weights, bodyweight exercises)
  • Skill (blocks, hurdles, jumps)
Other days can be off days or recovery-type training (extensive tempo -- like the horseshoes; or cardio machine tempo -- 20 seconds fast, 40 seconds slow in sets of 5 with a minute or two between sets; or tabata sets, which are a 3-min warm up then 1 or 2 sets of 8x20 seconds fast, then 10 seconds rest) and 2-min cool down (can be on machines such as bike, elliptical, treadmill or rowing -- or just running (in place even) or just punching, jumping rope or doing jumping jax -- or some combination of those things. It's a great 9- or 17-min workout (if you do 2 sets -- in that case, rest 4-min between sets)).

You may not have access to a track, or a gym or even good enough weather to go outside, so you need to get a little creative. Here are some things to consider:
  • Medicine ball 
  • Jump rope
  • Bodyweight circuit (squats, lunges, pushups, hip thrusts, burpees, jump squats, planks, etc.)
  • Plyometrics (skips, hops, bounds, jumps)
  • Hills (short or long, both are good)
  • Stairs (inside or outside)
  • Other -- any equipment at home? (treadmill, weights, exercise bike or ?)
Note: if you have injuries or soreness (shins), choose activities wisely. For example, if your shins hurt, avoid high-impact activities on hard surfaces. 

Finally, whatever you do, get some type of training at least every other day. 

Enjoy your time at home.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Workout: 12/15

12/15  Heading into break, Jim ran 6x1H, starting low and working up to 42. Good improvements in start mechanics and sprint through H1. Best time at 42 was 2.28, only a few hundredths slower than reps at much lower heights. Worked next over 2-3 hurdles. Reps were uneven and trail leg posed some issues. Worked on corrections during 4x4H up/back (36 -4) 3-step on 45-sec recovery. Finished with an 8-min mini-circuit and stretching.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Workouts: 12/5, 12/6, 12/7, 12/8

12/05  Mike

12/06  Joe, Jim, Dan and Mike worked on backovers, circle runs/jumps, 4-step box jumps, 4-step ground jumps, run-throughs, full-approach jumps. Adjusted approach marks in previous post.

12/07  Emily did 3x3H (33) 5-step, 1/2-space and 1-step drills. Next, 1H (falling start), 2H (3pt), 3H (block) (33 -1). 4x3H followed. Auto-timed splits between H1 and H3 (1.34 down to PR 1.29). 3x2H were next, auto-timing start/H1 (ranging from 2.22 to 2.16). Finished with 4x4H up/back at 30 -4 on 45-sec recovery. Hurdle stretches. Good work with high focus and intensity throughout.

12/08  Aaron, Tim and Jim did 3x3x3H drills, 4x2H solo (42 -1), 4x2H pairs (42 R), 4x4H up/bk 5-step (39) 45-sec rec. Wall stretches. Auto-time start/H1 bests: Jim 2.18, Tim 2.21, Aaron 2.21. Hand-time touchdown averages:  Jim 1.29; Tim 1.22; Aaron 1.31.

HJ approach marks

Jim: 16, 8.1, 2.8
Joe: 16.7, 7.8, 3.1
Dan: 16, 7.8, 3.6
Mike: 16, 7.7, 3.7

Friday, December 2, 2011

Tight hamstrings

Hurdlers often have tight hamstrings, particularly with the lead leg, which gets an extreme stretch on every hurdle.

Lots of people, including hurdlers, have a hip tilt, which you can check by how much arch you have in your lower back while sitting back in a chair. The greater the tilt, the greater the pull on the hamstrings -- sort of a nonstop stretch. So when you do a hamstring stretch, you end up stretching an already tight muscle. 

So what to do about that? Stretch your hip flexors and quads, which helps get the hips to a more neutral position, allowing the hamstrings to get back to their normal length. You will feel better and likely improve your  running and recovery.

Whenever you feel your hamstrings or lower back are tight, stretch the hip flexor and quads first. Lengthening the muscles on your front side will help out the backside.