Elitetrack: Sport Training & Conditioning

I participate in masters track - I do the 100, 200, 400 and long jump.  I am thinking about learning to hurdle.  I am F53.  I hope it possible to learn to hurdle even though I didn’t learn it when I was younger.

My question is about training hurdles.  I wanted to buy some of those collapsing hurdles.  Someone told me don’t do that because then I will be afraid of “real” hurdles.  My height is 30” for the next few years then it drops at age 60. 

I assume I should start with very low hurdles just to get the basic idea. I have a coach who helps me but he didnt’ offer any opinion on whether I should get collapsing hurdles first or not.

thanks.

I don’t think short hurdles will hurt you at all. You can even build your own out of PVC instead of purchasing the collapsing hurdles. After you are used to the hurdles dont be afraid to continue to train at 27”.

I learned to hurdle on the collapsible hurdles because I didn’t have any access to the real kind. I’d go out and get some of them or the PVC ones that Jed mentioned. You can either buy them or make them yourself.