The
                following workout is for hurdlers, sprinters and sprinters who
                run 400 meters.
              To be a sprinter, you
                have to train like a sprinter. You should work on the areas that
                improve and develop the phases of sprinting.
              Your first priority
                should be to work on sprinting technique on a daily basis. This
                includes the warm-up, phases of sprinting: the start, acceleration,
                transition, maximum speed, speed maintenance and finishing form.
                Working on the proper technique will eliminate any problems you
                are having. After technique, work on repetitions and strength,
                which includes weights and Plyometrics drills. For strength training
                refer to the web site under the "Coaching" button. Sprinters can
                use this same program. Follow the four-day cycle and start gradually.
                Also, be sure to do sit-ups between exercises.
              You should have two
                types of warm-up routines. One is for workouts and the other is
                for competitions. Part of your warm-up should include technique.
              A
                proper warm-up includes:
                Jog at least 800 meters; flexibility (20 minutes); accelerations
                (10 meters, 20 meters, 30 meters, 40 meters) with progression
                of distance. Increase the workload week-by-week. Intensity can
                be increased. The number of repetitions can be increased.
              Technique
                after the warm-up:
                Always work on technique for 35-45 minutes (hurdlers work on hurdle
                technique; sprinters work on mechanic drills; baton & sprinting
                out of the blocks 2 days a week) After technique, work on repeats.
              The
                following Periodization Program should be your preparation for
                track:
                When you start repeats, start with 3 or 4 and work yourself up
                to your maximum repetitions and distance.
              Saturdays and Sundays
                are rest days. Stay away from sprinting altogether. It is important
                that you get enough rest to recover.
              General Preparation
                Period:
                All workouts in the preparation period are done in good supportive
                flats and are never all out. You are working to learn pace, form
                and how to run into curves and out of curves. Each week every
                workout will get a little bit faster, without straining. If you
                want to run fast 400's, you must learn how to run pace and get
                faster and faster without straining.
              Monday:
                Work on repetitions of 300-600 meters with complete rest between
                repetitions. Work on even pace. Workout a total of 1200 meters.
              Tuesday:
                Run Repeat Hills if available (start with 3 repeat hills the 1st
                week; work up to 6 repeat hills). Run 200 meters up a hill, working
                on good arm action and no straining. Always walk back down. Workout
                a total of 1200 meters.
              Wednesday:
                Work on repetitions of 80-150 meters. Run 6x150 meters.
                Start at the beginning of the straightway so you only have to
                run one curve. Each 150 meters gets faster. Keep walking between
                each 150 meters and do not sprint until you are ready. Workout
                a total of 900 meters.
              Thursday:
                Same as Tuesday.
              Friday:
                Work on repetitions of 20-60 meters.
              Saturday:
                Competition
              Sunday:
                Rest
              Warm down regardless
                of the difficulty of the training workout.
              Communicate from the
                very beginning what is expected in your "goal routine". This way
                there will be no surprises. Let them know the format and what
                they are working towards.
              Sprinters will not
                be able to do this training routine in the beginning. This is
                your goal training routine. Training should be a gradual building
                process. Some days you will do warm up and technique work and
                you will be done for the day because the athletes will not be
                conditioned for a while. You will know when to increase the workload
                and progress by communicating with your athletes to find out how
                they are feeling.
              Most sprinters think
                they are done after warm up and technique. The format is warm
                up, technique and repetition workout. Sprinters win track meets.
                They are your hardest working athletes on the team. Sprinters
                have to compete in field events so this is why they have to do
                technique work. You have to organize which sprinters are in the
                long jump, high jump and triple jump. For example, sprinters make
                good long and triple jumpers. Good triple jumpers make good high
                jumpers. Hurdlers make good triple jumpers and high jumpers.
              Special
                Preparation Period:
                Same as the general preparation except the sprinters put on spikes.
              
                
                  | 
                     Monday: 
                   | 
                  
                     Choose
                      One: 
                   | 
                  
                     1. 
                   | 
                  
                     2x500 
                   | 
                
                
                  |    | 
                     | 
                  
                     2. 
                   | 
                  
                     3x400's 
                   | 
                
                
                  |    | 
                     | 
                  
                     3. 
                   | 
                  
                     4x300's 
                   | 
                
                
                  |    | 
                     | 
                  
                     4. 
                   | 
                  
                     1x500,
                      1x400, 1x300 
                   | 
                
              
               
               
               
               Each
                repetition must be faster Work on Plyometrics on the areas that
                improve and develop the phases of sprinting.
              Tuesday:
                Acceleration drills: (10 meters, 20 meters, 30 meters, 40 meters)
                progression of distance; week-by-week increase the workload; intensity
                can be increased; number of repetitions can be increased.
              
                
                  | Week-by-week: | 
                  1. | 
                  10x10
                    meters | 
                
                
                  |   | 
                  2. | 
                  Combine
                    10 and 20 meters | 
                
                
                  |   | 
                  3. | 
                  20
                    meters | 
                
                
                  |   | 
                  4. | 
                  Combine
                    20 and 30 meters | 
                
                
                  |   | 
                  5. | 
                  30
                    meters | 
                
                
                  |   | 
                  6. | 
                  Combine
                    30 and 40 meters | 
                
                
                  |   | 
                  7. | 
                  40
                    meters | 
                
                
                  |   | 
                  8. | 
                  Combination
                    of all distance | 
                
                
                  |   | 
                  9. | 
                  Etc. | 
                
                
                  |   | 
                    | 
                    | 
                
                
                  | 
                     Change
                      the distance up the hill: 10x100 meters 
                   | 
                
              
               Wednesday:
                Same as general preparation
              Thursday:
                Same as Tuesday
              Friday:
                Rest
              Saturday:
                Competition
              If you have a meet
                on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday adjusts workouts accordingly.
              Competition
                Period:
                Everything is the same as the Special Preparation Period: Two
                days a week work on start drills and relays. In training sessions
                decrease the distance, increase the intensity and decrease the
                repetitions.
              Let me know if you
                have any questions.
              Coach George Payan
                www.coacheseducation.com
                
                "Helping Coaches Coach"