If you enjoy track and field, I can almost certainly guarantee that you have come across Jimson Lee’s fantastic site, speedendurance.com. Much of my own formation as a coach has come as a result of the internet age, and discovering sprint training ideas, and more from Speedendurance has played a large role in my own development.
Jimson Lee has been around track for a long time. There aren’t too many facets of sprint training, or history, that you won’t find somewhere on his website. One of the things I’ve always enjoyed in any aspect of sport is not only knowing the science and practice of training, but also the history of where it all came from.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by SimpliFaster, supplier of high-end athletic development tools, such as the Freelap timing system, kBox, Sprint 1080, and more.
I was excited to speak with Jimson, particularly in regards to his in-depth knowledge on speed training, the 400, and sprint history, as well as his thoughts on track and field and the upcoming Olympic games.
Key Points:
- Jimson’s background in track and field, and beginnings as jumper turned sprinter, and his transition into coaching and masters track
- Thoughts on models for training speed, long to short and short to long. How do determine which route to take
- Reasons for the success of older sprinters on the world level, such as Gatlin and Collins
- How to optimize training for athletes in their 30’s
- Jimson’s thoughts on the 100-200 double at the Olympic Trials
- How to approach backing off after setting personal bests in sprinting or weightlifting
- Lessons in training athletes for the 400. Classic 400 workouts from world record holders
- Why aren’t there many fast 400m runners in the world today (outside Van Niekirk)
- Predictions for the Rio Olympics sprints
- What can be done to save the sport of track and field
- The use of technology in speed training
“The best way to learn is to shadow somebody, if you have the money, time and motivation, take two weeks off work, and spend time at ALTIS, or help two weeks at a national training camp in your own country. There is so much you can learn by watching people, and just being there day in and day out, and you can’t get that from any textbook, or internet for that matter”
“When I was training (masters), I skipped some workouts on the easy days, because I just couldn’t handle it. 6 days a week was too hard on me. I’d be in the hot tub, or getting a massage”
“I think Greg Rutherford is a good example, he trains only 3 days a week” “Gatlin has found the magic formula that makes him run fast, if you don’t get injured, you’re fine” “At that age, undertraining is far better than overtraining”
“Don’t get injured, the older you get, the longer it takes to recover”
(Donavan Bailey) “When I set a personal best, I take a flight home for 10 days”
“In running the 400, you reach a top speed at 60 meters, and then it’s one long deceleration”
“The faster your top end speed, the faster your 400; that’s through thousands of splits taken”
“Look at an athlete’s injury history when determining whether to do a short to long or long to short approach” “Look at a history, and see what kind of training won’t break that athlete”
How to bring back the sport of track and field “Have two athletes go head to head, or try to have athletes break world records” “Have different eras of women’s track and field records” “People want to see head to head competition”
About Jimson Lee
Jimson Lee is a Masters Athlete and Coach. He was the President of the Metro Athletic Club based in Vancouver. He is the coach and founder of the world-famous speed training website, speedendurance.com.
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