Strength Gaining Experiment

Expert Discussion Strength Training
1

Ok, last night i was laying in bed thinking about my training. i was thinking of maybe experimenting with a strength gaining program designed by myself.

stop right there!! alot of members here will say the following…

“Use the tried and true methods, we know they work!”

“Dont go crazy, remember, you’re trying to gain speed”

And maybe a few other comments. yes tried and true methods are excellent, they work. but, i am experimenting, i want to see how my body reacts, what exercises worked, what didnt etc. i am thinking, if humans never experimented, we would be all typing on this forum by candlelight because there wouldnt be any electricity. but also in the training section, if certain athletes, coaches or trainers didnt set out to experiment and try something different, the amount of knowledge advaible (sp) and the methods would not be where it is today.

i am aware i am trying to increase speed also. thats why i will be keeping up on my sprint training, and my coaching also. but it is pretty hard to be quick when you are weak.

Now, last night i never did get around to thinking of how i am going to approach this, what kind of training i will do, there is some research that needs to be done. if i can get all that research done today, i will start later today. if not, start next monday. but i am looking to research many kinds of methods, and hopefully come up with some new methods of training (i can only hope).

so what is still to come in this thread

*Aim
*Hypothesis
*Program

And maybe some other things. but all the training will be kept in my journal located here http://www.charliefrancis.com/community/showthread.php?p=142451#post142451

So whatever comments you have, opnions, concerns, advice, questions leave it here. but if you are just going to discourage me, put me down, flame me, please try and resist it. i am trying to be positive and try some new things, otherwise my knowledge, my body, my strength will never advance.

stay tuned, more to come

2

KISS

Add weight to the bar every workout.

Use basic exercises.

It’s worked for me quite well for the past few months.

3

Finding what works best for a specific athlete is always a good thing! Be mindful though that even subtle changes can send ripples throughout your other training elements. Try starting with what has worked in the past and add slight variations to the previously successful program. Keep the experiment controlled: don’t vary too many elements and only incorporate sensible changes: monitor and record how they interrelate with other training stimuli, and most importantly how the changes correlate to improvements on the track!

4

Stop running and just lift… Watch the numbers rise.

5

thanks explosivepower, very interesting. this experiment will end up being very detailed, recorded, controlled, montiored. i will also analyse each workout, record how my body feels after each workout, mentally also, graph changes in weights lifted and bw, etc.

hopefully by the end, i will have gathered enough data, and then the big report at the end will be written.

while this may be a good idea, however, i dont think that could work. if i stop running already, i am setting myself up for failure. yes numbers would rise if i cut out any extra activity, but i am building my speed up also. so this experiment is a way of increasing strength a different way, without neglecting other sprinting attributes.

6

Hey, don’t go substituting your spikes and weight gloves for a white lab coat! :stuck_out_tongue:

7

Just re-read your original post. I’m not actually after an answer to this question: just something for you to think about. Why do you feel the above isn’t advancing? If the foundations of a good program are in place there should be progression.

8

So far ive devised two assessments to be done before commencing. as a way of comparing start with finish.

Assessment #1

1RM Benchpress
1RM Squat
1RM Barbell Row
Pull-up Max (reps)
Body Weight

Assessment #2

40kg Benchpress Max
55kg Deadlift Max
15kg Dumbbell Step-up Max
Vertical Leap

I undertook these two assessments, the results in my journal. the program will commence Monday

9

arrr, so you want to gain strength and run too. Come on, dont be gready!!! :rolleyes: lol…
kool man, hope to see the progression. how long will you spend in assess 1 and then how long in assess 2? will you have say 1or 2 wks between each? or just roll to the next? Are you coming from a already gym background? What was your program currently looking like?

10

yes, im mr greedy bags, get the best of both worlds lol

they were already done, Assess 1 took about 15-20mins, dont remember excatly. same with Assess 2

Wasnt the smartest thing, but the sessions were done on Monday, then the other on Tuesday. But, i was fully recovered.

I already have a gym background, been gyming off and on for nearly 3 years, but due to my inconsistent efforts, stupid past planning and trying to follow bbing workouts and no diet at all, i am left with little gains. so now its time to buff things up.

the program is looking to be about 3 days a week, 4 days a week alternating. having basic movements such as the bench, squat, row, pull, dead, while having some supplementary excercises. but also adding in some new elements. umm also mixing up sets, rests, reps, exercises, AM/PM etc etc.

but i would like to say, before i get ahead of myself. if the methods i will undertake have already been done, researched, proven to work or not work etc, please dont think of me as a idiot or anything. i am trying something new which i havent done. im experimenting with my body. so i hope i havent made people think this is some revolutionary system or something, because most likely, it wont be, and most of you may have already tried this or something. i dont know. so i guess, stay tuned

p.s. thought i just had to say that cos thats been on my mind for a bit

11

lol, i had to Edit it…

no, we wont think bad off you for tyring different things. Your going to post in your journal the results, and your plan. HOw can you be though of in bad light that way.
if you want pointers in the right direction on gaininng strength (and speed), there are a few rather Strong dudes on this site (who also run). Dont be afraid to ask them for some direction too.

12

thanks bold, if you dont mind pointing me in the direction of a couple, that would be great. because i have no idea where to start or how to start finding these dudes

13

if i knew how to post a thread from a different section, i would.

the strength PR thread is in this section of Cf.com. look for posts about 3-4wks ago. In there, guys with big Pr’s would be the ones to see. Pm them maybe? Also, post up your Pb’s whilst in there ey?

14

Strength PR thread