The challenge for development of these tools is establishing mappings of training load(s) > body measures > training outcomes. This is analogous to the like of drug trials and financial models which require an analysis of cause and effect using substantial statistical models.
Establishing a suitable population of athletes would be interesting. It has to be targeted to the key populations for given sports - such as sprinters who run 100m in say 10.0 to 11.5. And will require either a very large randomised population or a targeted selection using equivelent input variables. The training models need to be carefully crafted to isolate specific training variables and map their impacts to successful/unsuccessful outcomes.
I would be interested if anyone has seen the models used to develop the emerging tools.
Indeed, I’m aware of certain high level groups that are using Athletigen Iris, and Omegawave has certainly been around for some time, thus I suspect it’s only a matter of time.
While the former and current communist regimes were/are able to tell all the elite athletes “you’re doing this” and that’s the end of it, the technological advancements are allowing all high level athletes in the free world to conduct their own monitoring. Thus, while it’s unlikely that the sub 9.8 crew is going to come to the beckon call of sport scientists to be evaluated for a training cycle, it’s highly likely that same sub 9.8 crew will put to use some user friendly do it yourself monitoring technology that’s meant to optimize their performance.
I didn’t want to start another thread, are any of you guys surprise with some of the strength training Stuart is doing with his sprinters?
What kind of strength training is he doing?
On the note of the VHS
I coached a guy who is now a sprinter/bobsledder (now a sub 10 runner) in his break through year we were doing sleds of 60kg for 60m (yes not recommended, I keep learning) his drive phase and top end was superb!
He went from 11.1 to 10.4, he moved to bobsled (itself VHS) and has now gone 9.9
Im defo pro a heavier sled than recommended, heck most sleds by themselves weight 10/20% bw
Impressive improvement - you must have done something effective here. Were there any other substantial changes to his training or personal lifestyle, or does it appear to be the sleds that substantially caused the improvement ? Was it possible to establish which phase (acc, max v, SE) demonstrated the greatest benefits ?
the 11.1 to 10.4 was over the space of one season to the next
10.4 to 9.9 has taken him another 4 years with a specialisation in bobsled however so his training is now very different obviously.
Hard to establish of that was the main reason, but that year I also had 3 other athletes who went sub 11 for their first times, as a main staple of the training was weekly heavy sleds along with normal heavy weights and track training
I’m not sure using VHS is a great idea for most.
Charlie never used VHS for speed training.
Charlie did not recommend VHS training for professional hockey players, soccer players or NFL running backs or for world class sprinters or masters athletes.
I’ve mentioned before on this forum when we did perform sled pulling Charlie was extremely careful. He watched ever so carefully to see if and when the degradation of my running occurred. The trained eye will catch the most subtle aspects of one’s possible best form. ( this is one reason why making sure you come to practice fresh and properly warmed up is so essential) Once a baseline distance has been established you can develop a working distance beneath your best capability.
I did not think the demonstration within this study would be sled pulling I’d condone based on the things I’ve practiced and successfully relied on.
I don’t need to reinvent methods outside a long list of tried and true methodologies based on decades of successes.
Charlie’s way to train elite sprinters was not the only way but it’s used throughout the world by many.
A problem or concern with pulling heavy weight while running likely will be that most people will not be able to technically maintain form and or ground contact time increases as a result of such heavy weight.
Those two undesirable outcomes eliminate the VHS as a priority exercise for speed training methods.
Should those undesirbale aspects of pulling VHS be eliminated I could see it as beneficial.
How much of a progression over what period of time to get to that distance and weight would there be?
Here is one of the things I know for sure.
One of the most frequent things I see at the track anywhere most time is people DON’T know how to run. Coaching or no coaching and well meaning individuals are everywhere but the minute you add weight to any person’s running the negative aspects of their form become amplified.
Practice makes permanent remember. Practice does not make perfect.
When i was a collegiate strength coach we did a lot of stuff from Jonas Dodoo and several other coaches… VH sled pulls, VH sprint bounds and other work was common… Remember there’s always more then one way to skin a cat…
Many non-sprinting methods (not just sleds) have some form of risk compared to sprinting itself.
For example by encouraging incorrect mechanics and unnecessary/incorrect muscle development. Potentially a higher risk of injury and loss of time/energy that could be better spent on pure speed training. Arguably sprinting and tempo are the only methods with direct objective proof of input/output results. Not to say others are a waste of time - clearly some do work but types and volumes are had to prescribe.
We just completed the 6 week program. Very solid program put together by Buddy.
What does this program involve?
It’s a GPP program for football players, mainly to be used right after the season… On the professional level players would preform this 6 week program before returning for team workouts. The goals of the 6 week program:
Develop, reestablish, and increase your work capacity.
Reintroduce yourself to the fundamentals of strength development and dynamic functional flexibility.
Start eliminating structural weaknesses developed over the course of a season.
Provide a Functional background on which to commence hypertrophy and strength training.
Using lower intensities will provide a means of active restoration.
Start eliminating unwanted body fat.
Like James mention above - 3 lifting days follow by aerobic work.
Aerobic work: Part 1 was 20-30mins of traditional cardio, last 2 weeks was jog/walk for reps follow by traditional cardio if additional weight lost is needed.
Strength training: started out with TCT and MCT and unilateral work then move to traditional strength training with more bilateral work.
Not sure if track and field athletes could get much from the program…