Tricks to increase your max speed. - Triathlon Week

Zylo · 09-19-2004, 05:40 PM

Just wondering what workouts people do to increase their maximum speed.

Example: Sprint intervals. Sprint Hill training etc.

Does anyone have some really good workouts that have really really helped them increase their maximum speed?

Thanks!

wannatri · 09-21-2004, 10:13 PM

You need a good base before you can really go fast. People have written books on this stuff, but in a single sentence ... Pre-season or early in the season, develop strength though weight lifting and build your aerobic base with longer endurance runs. Assuming you've laid a good foundation, you build speed by high intensity and fast running (intervals that is). I'm sure you've heard of the conventional stuff: wind sprints, hills sprints, stadium sprints, strides, etc.

Here's an interesting one. Find a place with 2 hills. You are looking for a slope running downhill, that flattens out and turns uphill pretty much right away. Try running 400s (or so) where you accelerate down the hill, then try to hold the speed running part way up the next hill. The downhill segment gets you moving faster than normal. The uphill segment makes you really work to hold the speed.

Good luck!

Zylo · 09-22-2004, 06:30 PM

Thanks for the tip. I'll go try that with my training partner next time we do speed work :)