Top Flight Speed School
Our speed school develops athletes' sprint mechanics, acceleration, and maximum velocity (top end speed). Our assessments and training are based on sport science and engineering concepts. Data is collected on a consistent basis so that training can be monitored and performance is optimized.
Maximum velocity has three main components:
Inappropriate training progression increases the odds of nonfunctional overreaching, overtraining, and performance stagnation (Haugen et al., 2020). We train athletes where they are fastest and focus on areas of speed that create the greatest impact.
Haugen et al. (2020) The Training and Development of Elite Sprint Performance: an Integration of Scientific and Best Practice Literature
Speed development for distance
If distance and time are involved, speed matters.
Distance runners with strong sprinting ability have increased performances in long-distance events (Ando et al., 2022).
Running economy (RE) is the level of oxygen uptake at a submaximal running velocity (Yamanaka et al., 2019). Maximal sprinting speed (MSS) influences running economy, VO2max, and glycogen storage in muscles (Yamanaka et al., 2019).
A faster MSS may promote reduced levels of relative force production, which delays the use of higher threshold muscle fibers which promotes fatigue resistance (Yamanaka et al., 2019). Fast long-distance runners have better running economy at high speeds (Ando et al., 2022). A fast MSS produces economical running and improves performance in distance runners (Nummela et al., 2014).
Ando et al. (2022) Thigh muscularity and sprinting performance
Nummela et al. (2014) Factors related to top running speed and economy
Yamanaka et al. (2019) Sprinting ability as an important indicator of performance in elite long-distance runners