PEAK PERFORMANCE IS NOW...
Speed hill training improves performance in football, rugby, basketball, cricket – and even running I’m a big advocate of hill training, and most athletes – especially those who have reaped the rewards of running on hills – don’t question why. Occasionally, though, someone asks me what is really so great about this form of training.... MORE
If you want to improve your one-mile times, follow these speed-building workouts This month, Vincent Costa writes, ‘As a secondary-school miler who has run 4:55 for the mile, what type of speed workouts do I need in order to run 55 to 57 seconds for 400 metres? I’m hoping that by lowering my quarter-mile time,... MORE
Maximising the kicking power in your legs will provide that all important race finish If you’re a runner, being able to produce a powerful kick at the end of a race is one of the most difficult tasks you’re faced with. Basically, when you try to accelerate over the last 500-800 metres of a race,... MORE
Strenuous training must be balanced optimally with rest and recovery in order to reach the mountain-top Carrying out great training is not just a matter of conducting tough, high-quality workouts. If reaching one’s potential depended solely on training very hard, all resolute athletes would be in top form. But all resolute athletes are not in... MORE
Planning your interval training programme is the key to achieving optimal results Splitting some of his training sessions into sets and repetitions is familiar territory for the serious track athlete who wants to run faster or boost endurance. Yet it can usefully be adapted for conditioning athletes in any sport. Once you understand the principles,... MORE
Owen Anderson explains why training at intensities above 90% VO2max is one of the most potent routes to fitness Cyclists, swimmers, rowers, cross-country skiers, orienteers, triathletes and runners all engage in interval training in order to increase the amount of time they spend exercising at very high intensities. A runner scampering along without stopping at... MORE
A new German study confirms that increasing intensity works better than upswings in volume For years we’ve been preaching in these pages about the merits of cranking up the intensity of your training rather than pressing the high-volume button. That philosophy is based on an avalanche of research showing that high-intensity work is best for... MORE
Explosive type strength training enhances distance-running performance One of the most fundamental rules of training is specificity; if you want to train for an event, your training should replicate the demands of that event. The rule of specificity arises because different events tend to rely on different energy systems in the body (which need to... MORE
Use a blend of these interval training techniques for maximum endurance gains High-intensity interval training is known to boost endurance performance, but not much is known about which type of high-quality interval training produces the largest performance gains, especially in well-trained athletes. The optimal intensity and duration of intervals, as well as the length of... MORE
Intense training is the best lactate threshold booster because it improves the heart’s capacity to deliver oxygen and the muscles’ ability to use oxygen once it’s delivered When Marc Rogers travelled to St. Louis back in July, 1984 to begin post-graduate research in exercise physiology at Washington University, he also commenced training for the St.... MORE
The latest triathlon research and best practice findings, covering improving technique, strength and conditioning, and endurance nutrition
The latest findings from running science with practical advice showing you how you can run further and faster whilst staying in peak health
