[ Contents | Search | Post | Reply | Next | Previous | Up ]
From: Tom Meakin
Date: 12/18/2002
Time: 6:06:38 PM
Remote Name: 198.51.174.14
With reference to leg strenght, both Lydiard and Cerutty used hills as the bases of leg strenght development. Lydiard using hills plus bounding in the period before the final lactate tolerance track work. Cerutty used hills including sand dunes in the condition period to develop leg strenght. He did not advise the use of squats for leg strenght believing this led to unnatural leg muscle development.
The Olympic 100m Champion Alan Wells also used hills and bounding to build up leg power. He did NOT USE WEIGHTS!!
Speed is based not only on leg strenght but also includes the components flexibility and cadence. Again both Cerrutty and Lydiard strongly advised the use of DOWNHILL FAST WORK over circa 80-120mm to assist in the ability to increase natural cadence. This method of improving cadence was used extensively in the old Eastern Bloc nations amongst sprinters and middle distance runners. Flexibity programs are well documented and all runners should use them.But these must include dynamic work.
Lactate tolerance work is the most difficult to be specific about as the age and individual responses to the workload vary. This based on research can be developed within say 6-10 weeks for a senior middle distance runner.
All the above comments and observations will be worthless with a sustained period of aerobic work and that MUST include HIGH MILEAGES.