Inside Usain Bolt's Training Regimen

Summary

In this video, Glenn Mills, coach to Usain Bolt, emphasizes the importance of balancing speed endurance and pure speed training for optimal performance. He argues that these two components should not be treated separately, as many athletes do, but should run concurrently. Mills also highlights the need for reduced training loads during high-velocity periods, with recovery being critical—36 to 48 hours of rest is ideal. Contrary to some coaches' beliefs, reducing workload doesn't result in lost performance, based on Mills' experience.

Takeaways

• 😀 Speed endurance and pure speed must work together, not in isolation.
• 😀 Many people separate speed endurance and explosive speed training, but Glenn Mills believes they should run concurrently.
• 😀 Athletes often think they haven’t started speed work, but they've been doing speed endurance training all along.
• 😀 Coaches should develop a balance between speed endurance and explosive speed training to keep athletes fresh and explosive.
• 😀 As velocity and quality of performance increase, the training load should be slightly reduced.
• 😀 Leading up to major competitions, recovery is key, and explosive training should be significantly reduced.
• 😀 Explosive training should only occur once or twice a week in the final period before a competition.
• 😀 Recovery time should be at least 36 hours, with 48 hours being ideal for optimal performance.
• 😀 Coaches may fear reducing workload too much, but Glenn Mills argues that it's necessary for better performance.
• 😀 Glenn Mills emphasizes that reducing workload in training doesn’t lead to a loss of performance, based on his experience.

Q & A

What is Glenn Mills' belief regarding speed endurance and pure speed training?

Glenn Mills believes that speed endurance and pure speed must work together, and coaches should develop a balance between the two. He argues that they should not be treated as separate components but rather be trained concurrently to keep athletes fresh and explosive.

Why do some athletes believe they haven't started speed work yet, according to Glenn Mills?

According to Glenn Mills, athletes often say they haven't started speed work yet because they have been focusing on speed endurance work. This highlights the confusion between the two types of training.

What does Glenn Mills suggest about the relationship between speed endurance and explosive speed training?

Glenn Mills suggests that speed endurance and explosive speed training should not be separated into distinct phases. Instead, they should be trained concurrently, ensuring that athletes remain fresh and explosive during their training.

What is Glenn Mills' perspective on reducing the training load as athletes approach high-velocity performance?

Glenn Mills emphasizes that the training load should be slightly reduced as athletes approach high-velocity and high-quality performance. This helps ensure that the athletes are fresh and explosive for peak performance.

How does Glenn Mills view the role of recovery in an athlete's training leading up to a major competition?

Glenn Mills believes that as athletes approach the competitive period, recovery becomes crucial. He suggests that explosive training should be significantly reduced, and recovery should not be less than 36 hours, with 48 hours being even better for optimal performance.

What is the common belief among some coaches regarding workload reduction, and how does Glenn Mills' experience differ?

Some coaches believe that reducing the training workload too much will cause the athlete to lose progress. However, Glenn Mills' experience contradicts this, as he has found that reducing the workload appropriately does not harm the athlete’s performance.

What specific training frequency does Glenn Mills recommend for explosive training during the competitive period?

During the competitive period, Glenn Mills recommends reducing explosive training to once or twice a week to allow for sufficient recovery and peak performance.

How does the recovery period impact performance in explosive training, according to Glenn Mills?

Glenn Mills stresses that the recovery period is essential for maintaining high performance in explosive training. A recovery period of at least 36 hours is necessary, with 48 hours being ideal, to allow the body to recover fully.

What does Glenn Mills say about the common misconception regarding reducing training time?

Glenn Mills notes that many coaches fear reducing training time will result in loss of progress. However, based on his experience, he asserts that this is not the case and that reducing training time can actually benefit performance.

Why does Glenn Mills believe that developing a balance between speed endurance and explosive speed is crucial?

Glenn Mills believes that developing a balance between speed endurance and explosive speed is crucial because it ensures athletes can maintain both endurance and explosiveness during competition, leading to better overall performance and reduced risk of burnout or injury.