Posted by John Cortese, Personal Trainer at Athlon Elite
Speed training is a hot topic these days… as it should be. Every athlete’s performance benefits greatly from a properly planned speed development program. But, unfortunately, when it comes to speed training there are so many gimmicks and “hottest new fads” out there that it confuses coaches, parents, and athletes on where to start. They make it too complicated and confusing…
Well, here’s the deal…
Simple Part:
Running speed is highly dependent on two variables, and can be laid out in a simple equation:
Speed = Stride Length x Stride Frequency
The distance that you can cover with each stride (stride length), and the number of strides you can take in a certain amount of time (stride frequency) will dictate the overall net gain in speed.
Join our Summer Speed Camp and you’ll move with explosive power by the end of Summer… Period!!
In order to facilitate gains in speed, an athlete should strive to:
improve movement efficiency, (think GRACEFUL)
the amount of force he/she can apply on each step taken, (think STRENGTH or torque in an engine)
and the rate (or speed) at which they can apply the given force (think POWER, being able to EXPLODE).
Develop a program that solves the above three issues and your speed WILL improve!
Now onto a bit more science and my firm beliefs in speed training… Get out your notebooks!
I firmly believe that the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) have a HEAVY influence on improving speed? Why, you ask? Speed is a motor skill; it must be learned just like crawling, walking, jumping, etc. As you progress and continue to refine technique, get better at MOVING efficiently, and learning how to express your strength QUICKLY, your nervous system adapts and learns how to do these things FASTER and EASIER, using a process known as rate coding.
When you get better at recruiting, turning on, and firing your motor units (a group of muscle fibers) through the practice of speed work, jumping, medicine ball throws, and heavy strength training, your body has no choice but to adapt and become better at CONTRACTING THE MUSCLES QUICKLY AND TURNING THEM ON MUCH FASTER.
In order to be fast, YOU MUST TRAIN FAST. Quality repetitions must be stressed over the quantity of repetitions in order to properly LEARN this important athletic skill.
And guess what?…
You’re in luck! This summer, Athlon Elite is offering an 8-week speed camp that will utilize the very principles spoken about above!
Some aspects that will be covered to enhance your athletic performance include:
Technique refinement (to enhance movement efficiency)
Dynamic Stretching and Mobility (makes moving easier and more fluid)
Jump training and explosive medicine ball work (to enhance rate of force development- POWER)
Proper sprint training (the skill of running fast)
Proper programming and periodization so that gains can be built upon one another from week to week
Supervision and coaching from an experienced authority on proper speed training for team sport athletics.
Strength (to improve the HORSEPOWER in our engine and improve stride length)
Now, the question is this… Are you ready to take the next step and commit yourself to one of the best speed training programs you will find on the Central Coast? I’ll tell you right now; this program will not utilize fancy gimmicks, elixirs, potions, and unproven methods that result in another failure!
You WILL see time tested principles and results, plain and simple.
After countless hours of scientific research, real-world experience training athletes (and MYSELF) with these simple yet effective techniques, and consulting with some of the world’s top speed training experts, I’m confident that this program will be nothing like you’ve experienced before.
I look forward to helping YOU achieve your goals this summer!
Posted by John Cortese, Personal Trainer at Athlon Elite
(we feel the Halloween photo is a little better likeness of him…)
In the world of sport (and I mean every sport), faster athletes have a huge advantage over their opponents. They move so efficiently they make running fast look EASY!
Their blazing set of wheels, known as their two legs, "drop the jaws" of their fans, their teammates and their competitors!
Have you ever caught yourself thinking “I wish I could move fast like that!”
or
“How are these guys so freaking fast?!”
I won’t bore you with the science of speed training… BUT…I will tell you one thing:
BREAKING NEWS…
SPEED/RUNNING FAST IS A SKILL THAT CAN BE TAUGHT TO ANYONE!
Yes, that’s right. The science and the art of sports conditioning proves this.
Just like any other skill in life, (such as climbing, walking, jumping, etc), "speed" is a trainable and learnable skill that can be taught to athletes needing to move faster, make the varsity, turn pro or just improve their athletic performance on the weekend!
How does one go about learning a skill?
Ever remember your old 3rd grade teacher telling you that "repetition is the key to learning?"…
That, "proper practice makes perfect!"…
SHE WAS RIGHT!
I firmly believe that training for SPEED requires constant learning, proper feedback (from a qualified coach), and QUALITY repetitions (NOT QUANTITY- BIG DIFFERENCE) to teach the Central Nervous System how to move with the utmost efficiency and enable YOU to be FAST, AGILE, AND EXPLOSIVE!
It’s often said that the fastest athletes in any given sport are the ones called upon to make the game changing plays; the ones who every time they step on the field are a threat to score; the ones who intimidate their opponents; the ones who step in the starting blocks and literally silence the crowd because they know they’re about to witness something special!
Do you want to take your game to the next level and take the next step in realizing your TRUE potential?!
Are you ready to take a huge step towards athletic DOMINANCE?!
Are you ready to turn yourself into a freaky fast, explosive, and agile athletic machine?
Well, my friend… You’ve come to the right place. Athlon Elite specializes in developing speed and:
Stay tuned for a big announcement coming next week on how Athlon Elite can turn YOU into the SPEED FREAK you’ve always dreamed of becoming.
Often times, as busy women and moms, we put others first and don’t allow enough time for ourselves. We put family and work first, we don’t take the time to cook a healthy meal and we don’t take time to exercise and live more healthy.
Well I’ve created a workshop to solve these problems. I run into countless women who have difficulty balancing all the many things that they must do on a daily basis and still live a healthy lifestyle. It’s my goal to give you the "knowledge" AND a "workable plan of action" to triumph over the difficulties of weight loss in a busy life.
I want to share with you the strategies that I’ve learned, as well as the successful tips and tricks that we use here at Athlon Elite to create serious and lasting body change.
Register now before spaces fill-up. We only have room for 12 participants.
Learn to combine the "knowledge" with a "workable plan of action" using San Luis County’s most successful system for sustained weight loss, Athlon Elite’s "Burn" System, at Athlon Elite’s Weight Loss Workshop. This Workshop will give you tons of valuable information and strategies like: healthy eating tips for daily weight loss and how to incorporate exercise into a busy lifestyle, and much more!!!
When: Tuesday, May 19th and May 26th
Where: The Athlon Conference Room, 805 Aerovista Pl. Suite 105, San Luis Obispo
Nowadays when we hear about elite athletes testing positive for banned substances, we brace ourselves for the denials, we prepare ourselves for shifting blame – you know, the faulty testing protocols, or the contaminated supplements.
And, rightfully, we’re skeptical. We assume that testing positive means cheating. That these supplement stories are tall tales put in place to cast doubt. So that cheaters can pull one over on juries, and on the public.
Could Your Supplements Be Tainted?
But what if some of the convicted cheaters didn’t cheat? What if it was a nutritional supplement? Sound far-fetched? Well one glance at this information below might change your mind…
2001 Study
In 2001, over 630 nutritional supplements, purchased online and at local supplement stores, were tested for banned substances. Over 25% of them were contaminated – either intentionally or unintentionally.
2005 Study
In 2005 a follow up study looked at another 60 supplements, purchased in the same way as those above. Again, over 22% of them contained banned substances.
2006 Olympics
In 2006, the entire Greek Olympic Weightlifting team was banned from the Summer Olympic Games because one of their supplement sponsors inadvertently supplied them with tainted supplements.
Think this couldn’t happen to you? Well, that’s what Serge Depres, a top bobsleigh pilot for team Canada thought when he wandered into a local (and well-known) sports nutrition store.
As a result of that fateful trip, Serge was suspended from competition for 2 years because he took an amino acid supplement and a HMB supplement that were actually BOTH tainted with anabolic steroids.
I know, I know. Some of you are still skeptical. He must have done something wrong.
But let me assure you. Dr. John Berardi personally saw the lab results. He even testified at both of Serge’s hearings. Serge never intended to “cheat.” And he certainly didn’t deserve a 2 year ban. But that’s exactly what he got. For taking BCAAs and HMB, two supplements most sports nutritionists frequently recommend.
Check out Serge Depres’ tragic story below:
Again, Do you know what’s in your supplements? Where they’re coming from?
Athlon Elite takes every effort to research and identify the authenticity and safety of the supplements we sell and recommend. Feel free to discuss your supplement needs with one of our trainers, they’ll be sure to steer you in the right direction.
Posted by John Cortese, Personal Trainer at Athlon Elite
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from Dr. John Berardi,
