Intensity of acceleration

Expert Discussion Advanced Sprint Training
1

Over 100m does everyone accelerate at 100% intensity everytime?

We tried sprinting to 30m at approx 90% and 100% intensity. However, there was only a 1/10 difference between times. On the 90% run we would obviously have more energy left for the rest of 100m. We did not time over 100m so don’t know the outcome between these 2 intensities over 30m.

I am wondering if sprinters, especially inexperienced sprinters, contract their antagonists at 100% intensity and would be better sprinting at 95% or 98% etc. I am reffering this to acceleration phase - not just top speed.

2

A 100% performance doesn’t equal 100% contraction. It equals the best possible interplay of muscles that the athlete can achieve. That ideal interplay will generate the best times all along the way, though in the learning process, it may be necessary to give up some time at the start to get into the ideal rythem for the rest of the run.