How Do You Run Faster

Obviously, being in the speed training/improvement business, I get this question a lot. So I thought I would address it to you in as simple a way possible in this week's newsletter.

Going faster from point A to point B is broken down into two areas - stride length and stride rate (or frequency). The better you are in those two areas, the faster you will be.

So, if your stride length isn't great, that means it takes you more strides to cover the ground between point A and point B, thus you would be slower than someone who takes fewer strides.

Now, if you don't have a good stride rate, meaning how fast that leg is turning over and touching the ground over and over again, then it takes you longer to get from point A to point B. The slower that rate is, the slower your speed is. When you combine the two components that is how you get a slow or fast athlete. Getting them improved is imperative to improving your speed and getting faster.

What we would do first is see where your stride length is. Ultimately, your stride length will be determined by your height, limb length, etc. So, your stride will only be so long. As that improves and we work on it, we will get you to your optimal stride length. The length where your legs can cover the most ground efficiently while developing the right amount of power for your stride rate.

Once the stride length is improved, then a lot of your speed development will then depend on your stride rate. How fast can you get those legs churning to build up speed? A lot of times lack of leg strength is a big culprit for a slow stride rate, which can also cause a shorter stride length. We want to strengthen the legs appropriately to generate the power in those legs which will in turn get your stride rate improved and get you faster.

Understand, there is more to improving speed then what I just laid out, but in theory if you want to get faster this is what we're looking at - your stride length and stride rate. Luckily, you don't have to worry too much about all the complicating details for a speed developmental program. Just leave that to us.