Speed Improvement Focus: COACHES AND ATHLETES MUST MAKE A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN SPEED WORK AND SPEED ENDURANCE TRAINING

COACHES AND ATHLETES MUST MAKE A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN SPEED WORK AND SPEED ENDURANCE TRAINING

The difference between speed work and speed endurance training is not always clear although the training objectives are entirely different. The mere fact that a sprint-assisted training technique is being used for example, does not guarantee that a speed workout is taking place. Speed work is designed to train the neuromuscular system by helping the body adapt to extremely fast muscular contraction and high stride rates (steps per second). Improvement occurs through neuromuscular adaptation to forced higher speeds and longer steps (the neuron recruitment level increases).