Elitetrack: Sport Training & Conditioning

Ok, since its the offseason, I spend this time testing everything, trying new things, analyzing…etc

this particular thing is right before getting into the blocks, "on your marks". i see maurice greene and boldon doing some bounding toe touches and then squatting, jeremy wariner doing a frog leap and then hip flexor stretch behind the blocks, and many others taking a  similar yet slightly different approach. which of these give good results, how do they work, etc. feedback needed, thanks.

I believe they do these explosive type movements to excite or rev up the nervous system right before the race

I have my guys do 1 or 2 tuck jumps before settling in

whats a tuck jump? same as what i mentioned?

similar, they jump up and try and pull their knees as close to their chest as possible

its more a mental thing then a physical thing.

some people use it as a ritual.
I havea friend who is a All-Ontario Champion in the 300m hurdle. Whenever she gets into the blocks, she HAS to touch her toes andtouch each side of her lane. AFter that, she jumps into hewr blocks and she's off. I saw her not do this once and she didn't do so great. Basically, what I'm saying is that some people make it into mental prep while others are more physical.

tooo much thinking just run

IrishB - 27 November 2005 09:45 AM

I believe they do these explosive type movements to excite or rev up the nervous system right before the race

I agree.

I would also tell my athletes two points to never forget . . . get in the blocks as close to last as possible and come up into the set position gradually.

I tell my guys the exact same thing

Actually the explosive movements that you see sprinters often do prior to entering the blocks helps to prime their nervous system for an explosive start. Remember, the guys you see on TV have often gone 5-10 minutes between their last warmup activities and the time they get to the start line. Their final actions are a way of getting in a final tuneup without disrupting the flow of the meet (high level meets are run on a very strictly enforced time schedule).