If 40 sec is the important barrier for 400m athletes endurance what do forum members think of a session like 2 x 40secs instead of 2 x 300m or 2 x 350m?
Progression will be inbuilt, as the athlete gets stronger they will run faster.
I think the idea is to run further than 40sec - 40sec being the minimum.
ok. What about 2 x 45 sec instead of 2 x 350m?
btw, Charlie’s mainstay SE session is 2 x300m. For a male 400m athlete this is far below the 40 sec barrier but Charlie worked predominately with female 400m athletes (?). For male athletes would 2 x 350m more appropriate?
With regard to the Hart/Smith concept, would one say that females have this same specific energy limiter? If not, would physiological differences be the major reason, as opposed to a function of metabolic acidosis with women?
Two issues with women.
1: Since the tempo sessions were often well beyond 40sec in the runs. Examples from my group- 10 x 300 in 50sec (approx) with 90 to 120sec rest. Marita Kock- 10 x 400m in 65sec. What is the effect? Similar or not?
2: Women can never develop the strength of men so must always rely on more speed and resultant speed reserve. (Remember, Marita Koch ran 10.83 in the 100m!)
Originally posted by Charlie Francis
Two issues with women.
1: Since the tempo sessions were often well beyond 40sec in the runs… What is the effect? Similar or not?
2: Women can never develop the strength of men so must always rely on more speed and resultant speed reserve…
Both points are very clear. The 1st is quite relative, since we had good success with this type of session during the winter. A noted effect was a heightened ability to finish well during the critical stage of their long sprint races subsequent to these work bouts.
However, this was made easier for them since alactic sprint sessions were never compromised. Hence, the 2nd point raised with regard to speed reserve.
Most of our tempo work is duration oriented. In spite of the fact that it requires an immense amount of observation and equipment dependancy, we prefer it for safety reasons. Any thoughts on when distance should be selected over duration in a training year?
I would like for you to elaborate on your point of resultant speed for women. I understand the point, but I would like to know how the 10x300m 50s with 90-120s rest helped out in the competition phase in regards to special speed training, and what percentages were the 50s 300m and the 65s 400m.