[trackhenson]

trackhenson on November 3, 2005 at 7:49 am #11425

I coach an extremely powerful sprinter who runs high 6's in the 60m, but only 11.4's in the 100m because he cannot seem to run relaxed. He runs tight and hard. He's a senior now and will play D1 football, and a good indoor season would help. He just wants to have a breakout year because he knows he's much faster than his times.

We've tried many different things to get him to run relaxed:
-buildups from a slow, relaxed jog
-55m sprints
-sprints with partner in the lead
-sprints with partner trailing
-visualization (although I don't think he's too good at that)
-overspeed
-breathing techniques
-etc.

If anyone could help, I'd really appreciate it. We've been struggling with this problem to two years now and I'm searching for anything. Thanks.

[ws100]

ws100 on November 3, 2005 at 9:01 am #49717

Do you use any cues for running relaxed?

[Josh Hurlebaus]

Josh Hurlebaus on November 3, 2005 at 10:07 pm #49718

Any chance of trying to get him to learn yoga or tai chi? Seriously, it will work him mentally and help get him to relax.

[scarter]

scarter on November 3, 2005 at 10:21 pm #49719

Nothing can compare to the power of observational learning.

In numerous studies, it is the most powerful form of teaching.

If you can add an incentive to this, I can pretty much give you a 99% guarantee he will learn what you need him to learn:

https://photos.imageevent.com/scarter/runrelaxed/Runrelaxed.mpg

I hope you have a laptop. This will make everything go just right.

If you can get a program like "ULead Gif Animator," it would help even more. You want to take the laptop out to the track with you, open ULead, open the video, and push play. It will replay the same clip over and over and over again, never stopping until you tell it to.

Now, before each run, have the laptop at the starting line. Have him look at Ato and Mo before each run.

Film each run with a camcorder if you can from the front view. At the end of the workout, both of you look at the clips together and see how you did.

There is a lot that goes into it. His focus level has to be high. The fact that Ato Boldon and Mo Greene are greats will entice him to focus more on the video.

He will then visualize what he needs to do and put it into play.

Best wishes.
Respectfully,
–Smoot Carter

[big-m]

big-m on November 4, 2005 at 12:06 am #49720

Wow thats amasing! I´ve seen it before on TV but that clip really got me thinking. I look like a power lifter doing a PR in deadlift when I run 🙂 

Trackhenson, You said he´s good at 60m so it´s not equaly important to be relaxed there? Maybe one wont even benefit from runing relaxed in 60m Maybe you could eaven hold your breth through the race? (i´ve tried it and it feels pretty good)

[scarter]

scarter on November 4, 2005 at 12:29 am #49721

A critical point that needs to be made is that you need to stick with one thing when teaching your student.

He can only focus on a few things at a time at most (has to do with motor learning).

I strongly suggest trying my method and then, after that, if it doesn't work, focus on others' suggestions.

I wish you the best.

Respectfully,
–Smoot Carter

[Josh Hurlebaus]

Josh Hurlebaus on November 4, 2005 at 6:08 am #49722

I'm gonna agree wholeheartedly with Smoot here. Those videos are great for showing just how loose you should be while running. My yoga and tai chi idea would mainly teach concentration without strain, but im not sure how well it would carry over to track.