OK, so you DO have max strength; It’s just not at the same time as SPP for the primary activity. This sounds similiar to what I have with Russian PL methodology, where there is a primary load peak before SPP, the weight load is cut sharply during the main part of SPP, then cycles up again (more weight than before, but ~75% fewer reps) as the track volume comes off. The Russians actually do this to carefully program the supercompensation phase, but it has the advantage of carefully balancing weight load versus training load for the primary activity.
I would probably tend to agree with you; however, it’s really a matter of programming. If the squat is a staple in the plan than it should stick around. Alternatively, if the mindset is more ‘global’, if you will, as far as thinking hip/leg extension strengthening then more than one means may be used in a block system.
If you accept Charlie’s philosophy of track strength preceding weights, then it might seem logical to sharply reduce or eliminate squats during the period in SPP where there is track volume of enough intensity to provide the stimulus–and then as the track load goes down, the squats might be cycled appropriately to maintain the stimulus.
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Yup. While there’s no taking away from the success of the T&F program it’s not at all how I would do things; however, this probably does not come at any surprise to you.
If I were programming the training of sprinters you would see far more of a CFTS influence in so far as a ‘generalist’ approach to the ‘strength training’.
You have to be very careful mixing approaches, something I learned whe I started training with John Smith part of the time a couple of years ago.
LSU has a VERY high intensity track approach that emphasizes contrast training as the primary track workout. This is not just overspeed (part of the season) but maybe the most risky training method ever invented short of doing depth jumps off a skyscraper. BUT…it works, and even if you get injured, you still get faster (everyone I know who has used this has gotten faster, although the occasional injury rate is seems to be at least 50%).
Because of the extreme stress (hamstrings particularly) of this one track workout, LSU may need the very light weight loads you see pictured in the videos.
I found the training microcycle interesting because:
(a) They’re actually doing contrast training in November already, even though they’re not doing the overspeed part yet.
(b) They’re following this workout with essentially 4 days of recovery (including the weekend off).
Tamfb: If you have any more specific training phase info (preferably closer to comp) from Dennis Shaver, I’d love to see it.