Sprinting Towards Single Digit Body Fat

Pound for pound, sprinters are some of the leanest and strongest athletes on the planet. They possess the perfect storm of fast-twitch dominance, exceptional reaction time, great work capacity, and a favorable endocrine profile. Physically, they look pretty damn good too.

Now you may suspect that a sprinter's physical characteristics are all a product of awesome genetics, but that's only one aspect of the resultant physical outcome. Yes, a certain body type is preferential for success in sprinting, but training, lifestyle, and diet all have a big impact on the expression of physical qualities.

To understand my point, just attend a collegiate level track meet and you'll note that certain track events develop specific physical characteristics in their participants. For example, even the guy or girl who places dead last in the 200 or 400m sprint will still typically have well developed glutes, hamstrings, and fairly low body fat levels. Even though they may not have what it takes to win even a Junior College track meet, their body resembles that of a world-class athlete. I attribute this to the training.

As a strength coach of some world-class sprinters, I'm often asked if their training regimens would only be of benefit to full time athletes or if the average Joe might reap similar rewards as well.

That's a good question, as it also plays into the Nature vs. Nurture genetics debate mentioned earlier. So for those who think it's all genetics and that pro sprinters were born to look and perform the way that they do, check out this training program for one of the top sprinters I train:

The following program outlines the typical pre-season training schedule of Darvis "Doc" Patton, #5 ranked 100-meter sprinter of 2009.

(Track workout designed by Monte Stratton, coach of multiple Olympic sprinters.)

Monday

• 10 am: Track work: speed-endurance (300m, 200m, 100m)
• 2 pm: Upper body strength training

Tuesday

• 10 am: Track work: block starts (2 x 10m, 2 x 20m, 2 x 30m, 1 x 50m) or speed work
• 2 pm: Lower body quad dominant strength training (squats, knee flexors, hip flexors)

Wednesday

• Soft Tissue therapy/ Massage

Thursday

• 10 am: Track work: speed day (5 x 60m) or (4 x 90m) or (3 x 120m) w/ 10 minute rest interval
• 2 pm: Upper body strength training

Friday

• 10 am: Track work: speed endurance (3 x 150m) or (4 x 120m) or (180m, 150m, 120m)
• 2 pm: Lower body hip dominant strength training (deadlifts, split squats, hip flexors)

Twice a day workouts, off day restorative sessions, and nary a moment wasted on those minor irritants in life like a JOB? Almost makes you want to be a pro athlete, doesn't it? (Maybe keep this schedule in mind the next time your know-it-all buddy looks at a chiseled Olympian and snorts, "Genetics" between his endless sets of seated 12 ounce Heineken curls.)

But you'll be pleased to know that while Olympic hopefuls require a life devoted to training, time-challenged regular folks can experience very significant results with a much more modest training schedule.

.... And the Joes

Now that you've seen a glimpse of how a world-class sprinter trains, here's an abbreviated version that will work for the typical Joe with normal work and family commitments. It may not have you nipping at Doc Patton's heels in six weeks, but you should expect serious reductions in body fat, increased anaerobic performance, and the beginning development of a smooth gluteal fold that even your long-suffering wife won't resist slapping.

You'll sprint twice a week, and weight-train three days a week. You'll perform a heavy maintenance session for legs once per week for the six-week cycle.

• Monday: Upper body: Horizontal push/pull
• Tuesday: Sprints
• Wednesday: Rest
• Thursday: Legs (alternate quad and ham dominant days)
• Friday: Upper Body: Vertical push/pull
• Saturday: Sprints
• Sunday: Rest

Day 1: Upper Body (Horizontal push/pull)

Day 2: Week 1/3/5: Lower body (Hip dominant)

Day 2: Week 2/4/6: Lower Body (Quad dominant)

Day 3: Upper body (Vertical push/pull)

* If you don't have access to a Prowler, perform burpees for 20-second sets. Wear a weight vest to increase difficulty

Drills and Warm-up: Before Every Sprint Session

Week 1-2

Day 1: Sprint – 80% Day

Day 2: Sprint – Max speed day

Week 3-4

Day 1: Sprint – 90% Day

Day 2: Max speed day

Week 4-6

Day 1: Sprint – 90% Day

Day 2: Max speed day

High Knee March

• Move briskly for about 20 steps, lifting the knees as high as you can with each step.
• Pump your arms.
• Stay on your toes throughout.

Butt Kicks

• Kick your heels up to touch your bum.
• Stay on your toes and pump your arms.
• Works the hamstrings and stretches the quads.

Lateral Shuffle

• Squat down until your thighs are approximately parallel to the floor. Keep the chest up.
• While maintaining this position, quickly shuffle sideway for about 10 steps and immediately return with the same amount of steps.

Cariocas

• Move briskly sideways, crossing the trailing leg in front.
• Uncross the legs and move the trailing leg behind.
• Increase the speed as you get the hang of the footwork.

A-Skips

• Similar to a High Knee March but performed explosively (like a skipping motion with an explosive element).
• Raise kness and pump arms, and dorsiflex foot (lift toe).
• Drive ball of landing foot into the ground.

Active-Assisted Hamstring Stretch

• Lie supine (on your back) with a small rolled-up towel under your low back.
• Actively initiate hip flexion; once you reach the limit of your active range of motion use a strap to deepen the stretch by pulling the leg a few inches farther.
• Hold for 2 seconds; repeat until 6 reps are complete.
• You will feel mild pain in the hamstring on each rep.
• Your non-working leg should be in contact with the floor and completely straight with toe pointing towards ceiling.
• Sets: 3/leg
• Reps: 6 reps

You may notice I don't recommend any distance over 200 meters. This is because I want you to focus on working within the short term and intermediate energy system (anaerobic alactic and anaerobic lactic system). All sprints should take less than 30 seconds to complete. If you have less than 10% body fat and can't run 200 meters in less than 30 seconds, you're in sorry shape, my friend.

Intensity definitions

• When running at 80% you should not feel strained.
• Running at 90% intensity is running at full speed under control. You're running as fast as you can while maintaining good body position (no arm flailing, neck and face are relaxed).
• Running at 100% requires you to focus on applying as much force to the ground as possible.
• Arm position: arms at 90 degrees, and your hands should pass your pants pockets during each stride.

Why should I follow a sprint-based training program?

Here are just a few reasons:

• Increased work capacity
• Increased hamstring and glute development
• Increased maximal strength on all lower body exercises
• Loss of body fat
• Many life & death situations that you might one day find yourself in will require you to sprint. God forbid, if your toddler suddenly starts pedaling his tricycle towards a busy intersection, you won't be wishing you spent more time on a recumbent bike.

Where I live it's winter eight months out of the year. Can I replicate this program on my treadmill?

Doubtful. Most treadmills, even the higher end commercial ones found at your neighborhood big box fitness center, won't cut it – unless you're dreadfully out of shape. One notable exception would be high-speed Woodway treadmills. But if your facility doesn't have these, you need access to an indoor facility with a track- or move!

Should I focus on running faster each workout? Do I try to beat my best time or best distance?

Neither. You will get faster just because you haven't sprinted in the past. Trainees sprinting for cosmetic purposes (fat loss, glute hamstring hypertrophy) should focus on effort more so than time. A program designed to improve sprint time/performance would be significantly different, including longer rest intervals and start work.

I haven't sprinted since back when I played high school football. So what do I do? Just, uh, run?

Perfecting sprint form sprinting is much more in depth than many would think and requires years of practice and precise coaching. While most of this is irrelevant to the average guy just trying to sprint his way back into shape, here are a few key points to focus on when sprinting:

1. Keep shoulders down and relaxed, with eyes down the track and chin slightly tucked in. Keep your torso erect; don't lean forward like you're trying to break Usain Bolt's record.
2. Keep hands relaxed and open, like holding an egg.
3. Arms should not cross in front of body; arm motion should be front to back, front to back with hands passing pants pockets on each stride.

The last time I tried sprinting without stretching first I pulled a hamstring. Why do you only have hamstring stretches after the sprint sessions?

Passive stretching doesn't prevent hamstring pulls. Increasing active range-of-motion and increasing eccentric hamstring strength prevents hamstring pulls.

Getting off the stationary bike and onto the track may seem a little scary to some bodybuilders. Don't be afraid. Some of the finest built bodies of yesterday and today consider sprinting to be an essential part of their training toolbox. Remember, you have only stubborn body fat to lose and rock-hard quads, hamstrings, and glutes to gain.

Pound for pound, sprinters are some of the leanest and strongest athletes on the planet. They possess the perfect storm of fast-twitch dominance, exceptional reaction time, great work capacity, and a favorable endocrine profile. Physically, they look pretty damn good too.

Now you may suspect that a sprinter's physical characteristics are all a product of awesome genetics, but that's only one aspect of the resultant physical outcome. Yes, a certain body type is preferential for success in sprinting, but training, lifestyle, and diet all have a big impact on the expression of physical qualities.

To understand my point, just attend a collegiate level track meet and you'll note that certain track events develop specific physical characteristics in their participants. For example, even the guy or girl who places dead last in the 200 or 400m sprint will still typically have well developed glutes, hamstrings, and fairly low body fat levels. Even though they may not have what it takes to win even a Junior College track meet, their body resembles that of a world-class athlete. I attribute this to the training.

As a strength coach of some world-class sprinters, I'm often asked if their training regimens would only be of benefit to full time athletes or if the average Joe might reap similar rewards as well.

That's a good question, as it also plays into the Nature vs. Nurture genetics debate mentioned earlier. So for those who think it's all genetics and that pro sprinters were born to look and perform the way that they do, check out this training program for one of the top sprinters I train:

The following program outlines the typical pre-season training schedule of Darvis "Doc" Patton, #5 ranked 100-meter sprinter of 2009.

(Track workout designed by Monte Stratton, coach of multiple Olympic sprinters.)

Monday

• 10 am: Track work: speed-endurance (300m, 200m, 100m)
• 2 pm: Upper body strength training

Tuesday

• 10 am: Track work: block starts (2 x 10m, 2 x 20m, 2 x 30m, 1 x 50m) or speed work
• 2 pm: Lower body quad dominant strength training (squats, knee flexors, hip flexors)

Wednesday

• Soft Tissue therapy/ Massage

Thursday

• 10 am: Track work: speed day (5 x 60m) or (4 x 90m) or (3 x 120m) w/ 10 minute rest interval
• 2 pm: Upper body strength training

Friday

• 10 am: Track work: speed endurance (3 x 150m) or (4 x 120m) or (180m, 150m, 120m)
• 2 pm: Lower body hip dominant strength training (deadlifts, split squats, hip flexors)

Twice a day workouts, off day restorative sessions, and nary a moment wasted on those minor irritants in life like a JOB? Almost makes you want to be a pro athlete, doesn't it? (Maybe keep this schedule in mind the next time your know-it-all buddy looks at a chiseled Olympian and snorts, "Genetics" between his endless sets of seated 12 ounce Heineken curls.)

But you'll be pleased to know that while Olympic hopefuls require a life devoted to training, time-challenged regular folks can experience very significant results with a much more modest training schedule.

.... And the Joes

Now that you've seen a glimpse of how a world-class sprinter trains, here's an abbreviated version that will work for the typical Joe with normal work and family commitments. It may not have you nipping at Doc Patton's heels in six weeks, but you should expect serious reductions in body fat, increased anaerobic performance, and the beginning development of a smooth gluteal fold that even your long-suffering wife won't resist slapping.

You'll sprint twice a week, and weight-train three days a week. You'll perform a heavy maintenance session for legs once per week for the six-week cycle.

• Monday: Upper body: Horizontal push/pull
• Tuesday: Sprints
• Wednesday: Rest
• Thursday: Legs (alternate quad and ham dominant days)
• Friday: Upper Body: Vertical push/pull
• Saturday: Sprints
• Sunday: Rest

Day 1: Upper Body (Horizontal push/pull)

Day 2: Week 1/3/5: Lower body (Hip dominant)

Day 2: Week 2/4/6: Lower Body (Quad dominant)

Day 3: Upper body (Vertical push/pull)

* If you don't have access to a Prowler, perform burpees for 20-second sets. Wear a weight vest to increase difficulty

Drills and Warm-up: Before Every Sprint Session

Week 1-2

Day 1: Sprint – 80% Day

Day 2: Sprint – Max speed day

Week 3-4

Day 1: Sprint – 90% Day

Day 2: Max speed day

Week 4-6

Day 1: Sprint – 90% Day

Day 2: Max speed day

High Knee March

• Move briskly for about 20 steps, lifting the knees as high as you can with each step.
• Pump your arms.
• Stay on your toes throughout.

Butt Kicks

• Kick your heels up to touch your bum.
• Stay on your toes and pump your arms.
• Works the hamstrings and stretches the quads.

Lateral Shuffle

• Squat down until your thighs are approximately parallel to the floor. Keep the chest up.
• While maintaining this position, quickly shuffle sideway for about 10 steps and immediately return with the same amount of steps.

Cariocas

• Move briskly sideways, crossing the trailing leg in front.
• Uncross the legs and move the trailing leg behind.
• Increase the speed as you get the hang of the footwork.

A-Skips

• Similar to a High Knee March but performed explosively (like a skipping motion with an explosive element).
• Raise kness and pump arms, and dorsiflex foot (lift toe).
• Drive ball of landing foot into the ground.

Active-Assisted Hamstring Stretch

• Lie supine (on your back) with a small rolled-up towel under your low back.
• Actively initiate hip flexion; once you reach the limit of your active range of motion use a strap to deepen the stretch by pulling the leg a few inches farther.
• Hold for 2 seconds; repeat until 6 reps are complete.
• You will feel mild pain in the hamstring on each rep.
• Your non-working leg should be in contact with the floor and completely straight with toe pointing towards ceiling.
• Sets: 3/leg
• Reps: 6 reps

You may notice I don't recommend any distance over 200 meters. This is because I want you to focus on working within the short term and intermediate energy system (anaerobic alactic and anaerobic lactic system). All sprints should take less than 30 seconds to complete. If you have less than 10% body fat and can't run 200 meters in less than 30 seconds, you're in sorry shape, my friend.

Intensity definitions

• When running at 80% you should not feel strained.
• Running at 90% intensity is running at full speed under control. You're running as fast as you can while maintaining good body position (no arm flailing, neck and face are relaxed).
• Running at 100% requires you to focus on applying as much force to the ground as possible.
• Arm position: arms at 90 degrees, and your hands should pass your pants pockets during each stride.

Q: Why should I follow a sprint-based training program?

A: Here are just a few reasons:

• Increased work capacity
• Increased hamstring and glute development
• Increased maximal strength on all lower body exercises
• Loss of body fat
• Many life & death situations that you might one day find yourself in will require you to sprint. God forbid, if your toddler suddenly starts pedaling his tricycle towards a busy intersection, you won't be wishing you spent more time on a recumbent bike.

Q: Where I live it's winter eight months out of the year. Can I replicate this program on my treadmill?

A: Doubtful. Most treadmills, even the higher end commercial ones found at your neighborhood big box fitness center, won't cut it – unless you're dreadfully out of shape. One notable exception would be high-speed Woodway treadmills. But if your facility doesn't have these, you need access to an indoor facility with a track- or move!

Q: Should I focus on running faster each workout? Do I try to beat my best time or best distance?

A: Neither. You will get faster just because you haven't sprinted in the past. Trainees sprinting for cosmetic purposes (fat loss, glute hamstring hypertrophy) should focus on effort more so than time. A program designed to improve sprint time/performance would be significantly different, including longer rest intervals and start work.

Q: I haven't sprinted since back when I played high school football. So what do I do? Just, uh, run?

A: Perfecting sprint form sprinting is much more in depth than many would think and requires years of practice and precise coaching. While most of this is irrelevant to the average guy just trying to sprint his way back into shape, here are a few key points to focus on when sprinting:

1. Keep shoulders down and relaxed, with eyes down the track and chin slightly tucked in. Keep your torso erect; don't lean forward like you're trying to break Usain Bolt's record.
2. Keep hands relaxed and open, like holding an egg.
3. Arms should not cross in front of body; arm motion should be front to back, front to back with hands passing pants pockets on each stride.

Q: The last time I tried sprinting without stretching first I pulled a hamstring. Why do you only have hamstring stretches after the sprint sessions?

A: Passive stretching doesn't prevent hamstring pulls. Increasing active range-of-motion and increasing eccentric hamstring strength prevents hamstring pulls.

Getting off the stationary bike and onto the track may seem a little scary to some bodybuilders. Don't be afraid. Some of the finest built bodies of yesterday and today consider sprinting to be an essential part of their training toolbox. Remember, you have only stubborn body fat to lose and rock-hard quads, hamstrings, and glutes to gain.