Posted In: Blog Discussion
My training center has recently started a golf fitness training program and I’ve been looking to purchase some equipment for the TPI professional who will be overseeing our program. In doing so, I’ve stumbled across some videos that I couldn’t help but laugh at. These things were like a bus full of burning nuns….you don’t want to look but you just can’t tear your eyes away from the horrific
ELITETRACK Founder
Great point about the squabbling about 10%. I think this is the focus of most of the internet forums/blogs out there.
I think I’m going to write an e-book titled “Cookie Cutter Approach Training Program” The sub title will be “Getting results while focusing just on the basics”
I think a solid cookie cutter approach program will beat a crappy individualized program every day of the week.
Great points Mike. But, along the same lines – I think anyone can get thrown by gimmicks and trends, but if you get a bunch of the basics right, then even if you do some of the stuff that makes no sense – you still probably haven’t hurt yourself much.
What always cracks me up is seeing people in the gym who do only assistance exercises wiht weights, and only long slow cardio. They are working on the last 10% before getting the first 90% right. My wife thinks she has a good exercise program because she does weights as well as cardio. Her weight days consist of a great variety of DB exercises with very low loads and her “speed training” is when she runs 5 or 6 miles on the treadmill and alternates between a fast mile and a walk/jog mile.
Good post. The truth is, if the EliteTrack forum regulars all posted their own version of a training program in the blind, I think we would laugh at how similar they would all turn out to be, as compared to the some of the ‘more unique’ programs like the one you highlighted. Even that last 10%, I think would prove to be more similar than not.
Good post. The truth is, if the EliteTrack forum regulars all posted their own version of a training program in the blind, I think we would laugh at how similar they would all turn out to be, as compared to the some of the ‘more unique’ programs like the one you highlighted. Even that last 10%, I think would prove to be more similar than not.
That may be true, but I’m not doing lower body strength work that looks like this:
M- Clean, Squat, RDL
W- Deadlift, Step Up, Leg Curl
F- Snatch, Lunge, Back Extension
[quote author="star61" date="1264299848"]Good post. The truth is, if the EliteTrack forum regulars all posted their own version of a training program in the blind, I think we would laugh at how similar they would all turn out to be, as compared to the some of the ‘more unique’ programs like the one you highlighted. Even that last 10%, I think would prove to be more similar than not.
That may be true, but I’m not doing lower body strength work that looks like this:
M- Clean, Squat, RDL
W- Deadlift, Step Up, Leg Curl
F- Snatch, Lunge, Back Extension[/quote]What are you dong?
-I’m making sure I’m not trying to use 8-9 different leg exercises in the course of a week.
-I’m allowing more than 48 hours to pass before I attempt another lower body strength session.
When an athlete has an exceptional workout, Charlie Francis suggests backing off for 7-10 days. If a Dan Pfaff trained athlete sets a pr in a race in Europe, might he suggest going home to freshen up?
-I’m making sure I’m not trying to use 8-9 different leg exercises in the course of a week.
-I’m allowing more than 48 hours to pass before I attempt another lower body strength session.
When an athlete has an exceptional workout, Charlie Francis suggests backing off for 7-10 days. If a Dan Pfaff trained athlete sets a pr in a race in Europe, might he suggest going home to freshen up?
While I like variability, I don’t think there is such a big difference between max strength using 1-3 primary movements, and max strength work that uses 3-4 movements with a couple of accessory lifts. And since most track athletes don’t seem to spend too much time lifting >90% or lifting too close to failure, 48hours is plenty of rest. Yes, 72 hours is ideal, especially if you are lifting at very high intensity, but lifting submaximal weights for submaximal reps doesn’t tax the CNS that much…so this is also a small point. As far as suggestions about how many days to rest after a good training session, I don’t think Charlie would suggest to an athlete who was making great progress and setting PRs to take 10 days off everytime it happened. A few times per year at most? Still, these are minor, although perhaps important, differences considering the range of training methods discussed on some forums.
I know this discussion is dependent upon on many variables such as training age, time of year, level of athlete, etc…
I like variability, too. I just don’t know why people need to cram it all in 5 days.
Yes, submaximal work won’t tax the CNS as much but the muscles in my legs are still doing the work which, to me, makes it more than a small deal. This is essentially why Mike Boyle stopped having his guys train legs every day. Sure, they theorized that separating lifts into quad dominant, hip dominanat, etc… would allow them to get away with it but they were wrong.
I know this discussion is dependent upon on many variables such as training age, time of year, level of athlete, etc…
I like variability, too. I just don’t know why people need to cram it all in 5 days.
I like to rotate a few exercises in and out over a 4 week minicycle. Big lifts (squat, bench, rows) stay mostly the same, but accessory exercises vary week to week.
Yes, submaximal work won’t tax the CNS as much but the muscles in my legs are still doing the work which, to me, makes it more than a small deal. This is essentially why Mike Boyle stopped having his guys train legs every day. Sure, they theorized that separating lifts into quad dominant, hip dominanat, etc… would allow them to get away with it but they were wrong.
I personally like hitting each major muscle group (legs, chest, back etc.) twice per week, once hard and once easy/light. For sprinters, I don’t think its necessary to hit upper body twice, especially if doing cleans.
