Speed

marshall · 14-Feb-04, 12:31 PM

I am currently a little over 6'3 and i am 200lbs. I am 15 years old, my birthday is in late december. I play , run track (100 yard), and lift weights. I would like to know ways to increase your speed dramatically. I currently run the 40 yard in under 5.5 probably around 5.3. I would like to know ways to get faster. I am not flexible, i can barely put my hand below my knee cap on a standing touch-your-toes stretch, and i could probably lose some weight. I, in simple terms, could improve alot. I am really working hard, stretching , doing track, and spending large amounts of time in the weight room. I would like to run a 4.7 by next year. Thanx to any replies.

abarlament · 14-Feb-04, 01:27 PM

To start off it's very simple:

-Eat less, but make sure to eat lots of protein and EFAs
-Run more, as in 40s, 100yd sprints, fartlek, 10 yard sprints
-Do the clean and jerk and the snatch
-Do depth jumps
-Stretch and move around all the time

marshall · 14-Feb-04, 04:08 PM

I have a few questions:

i eat alot of food. I don't touch sucrose, or fast foods or any of that junk. Yet i do eat large amounts of food. For breakfast I had a 5 egg omlet with a banana apple and mango, with 4 pieces of wheat toast, canadian ham, a spinach salade, and was going to make some oatmeal but didn't have milk

I eat this much because i am growing. So to stop eating would be detramental to my future as a tight end. So is there anything wrong with eating lots of food if it is good food?

What is the difference between the clean and the sna. as far as muscle, strength, and speed improvement and what impact do these make overall on your body?

Does stretching make you faster?

Why does running make you faster?

What are depth jumps?

thanx.

ebon00 · 16-Feb-04, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marshall

So is there anything wrong with eating lots of food if it is good food?

Any surplus calories will mean that you gain non-functional tissue which is an impediment to attaining speed. It's akin to running with a loaded backpack on vs. running without it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by marshall

What is the difference between the clean and the sna. as far as muscle, strength, and speed improvement and what impact do these make overall on your body?

Cleans allow you to handle heavier weights since the path of the bar is shorter. Snatches have a higher recruitment of fast-twitch fibers though and as such impacts power output more. In short, power cleans and snatches kick ass. You should also add some snatch-grip deadlifts to any speed routine. Posterior chain strength is definitely a limiting factor in speed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by marshall

Does stretching make you faster?

Yes. Tight joints mean less mobility which means you'll be fighting your own friction while running. Since stride length is an integral part in running speed any loss in flexibility means a loss in speed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by marshall

What are depth jumps?

Jumping from a box of a predetermined height (box height is relative to experience) and "re-bounding" off the ground as quickly as possible, usually jumping on top of another box.

marshall · 16-Feb-04, 06:56 PM

i ran the 40 today. I ran it in 5.95, followed by 5.76, and finally 5.46. I really wanted to run around 5.2 , or something but didn't. i know i am faster than what i ran it in. I probably don't know how to run correctly, and could work on my confidence. I was petrified that i was going to do bad and i did.

ebon00 · 17-Feb-04, 09:05 AM

Here's something that should be obvious to most but sadly isn't: you'll gain more in the 40-yard dash by working on starting technique than you will by running 40's all day. The first few steps is where the big gains come. Anyone can run fast once they're up to speed, it's getting to your top speed fassthat matters over short sprints. So get yourself a decent coach that can show you how to improve your start (stance, first step, where to keep your eyes etc.) and you'll be on your way to a sub 5-second 40.

CJNY · 17-Feb-04, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebon00

Anyone can run fast once they're up to speed,

You've obviously never seen me run.

You are right about working on starts, though. Reaction time, technique, etc. Most people have there's lots of room for improvement.

ebon00 · 19-Feb-04, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJNY

You've obviously never seen me run.

OK, allow me to amend my statement. Anyone but CJNY can run fast once they're up to speed.

Seriously though, most people have the potential to run fast (relatively speaking of course). You do need decent technique, the right kind of strength and the necessary flexibility though. So if someone's either a weak-ass midget with tight hamstrings or a big fat blob who run like a girl, then they might not have much speed. But they can get faster...

**JawD** · 19-Feb-04, 10:10 AM

Oh if you could see the pictures you are creating in my head....

marshall · 19-Feb-04, 11:36 PM

i ran the 400 meter for the first time today. i ran it in 78 seconds. it was the most painful experience i have ever had.

**jgriffith** · 20-Feb-04, 09:47 AM

Quote:

or a big fat blob who run like a girl

Look out, thats gonna get you killed! I learned long ago to stear clear of those comments, "Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn."

**midgetcop** · 20-Feb-04, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgriffith

Look out, thats gonna get you killed! I learned long ago to stear clear of those comments, "Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn."

*growlgrumblegrowl*

He's right you know!

Run like a girl.....sheesh.

Sayer · 10-Mar-04, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marshall

i ran the 400 meter for the first time today. i ran it in 78 seconds. it was the most painful experience i have ever had.

Yeah, 400s are the worst. Short enough that you have to sprint the whole thing, but long enough so that you want to die afterwards. Good Luck!

ebon00 · 11-Mar-04, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgriffith

Look out, thats gonna get you killed! I learned long ago to stear clear of those comments, "Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn."

No worries, I've been blasted before. I could have said something else but then the force of the statement would have been lost... Suprised no one bothered to lecture me about using midgets to convey a negative...

marshall · 12-Mar-04, 12:29 AM

the coach told me i wasn't fast enough to be a receiver, and that i was a linemen he doesn't know how much faster i have gotten.