videos: running drills (part 1)

i found a series of very useful--and very well presented--running drills. they're from a YouTube user named "crazyfastproductions" who appears to be a middle-distance and long-distance running coach somewhere in the US.

these drills are labeled as "warm-up and circuit" drills. they're called that because they're the drills that most (if not all) track & field runners are taught (especially middle-distance and long-distance runners) to use for warm-up before running workouts.

however, they're also used as technique drills to help develop the following:

• run-specific muscle strengthening
• run-specific connective tissue strengthening
• motor coordination
• flexibility and elasticity
• proper running form & technique
  

the overarching purpose of all these is 1) superior running speed, and 2) injury prevention.

because of the above benefits, you'll see runners doing these drills for more than just warm-up, but as actual main sets of workouts or total workouts altogether. in particular, some run workouts will be scheduled as easy training days and targeted primarily at doing these drills to help reinstall or rebuild proper running form & technique.

check them out (note: the 1st one's a little slow to start, but just wait and let it go):

• part 1 of 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY0S1y-HEZs
• part 2 of 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chY5YBKipTQ
• part 3 of 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gE7N_PSjoI
• part 4 of 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjNAt708Ykc
• part 5 of 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euN56EFx1XM
  

the YouTube URL for "crazyfastproductions" is: http://www.youtube.com/crazyfastpresents

i should point out that these aren't the only running drills in the world. there are many others. but they all, in varying degree, are geared towards fulfilling the same objectives as those itemized above.

i should also point out that these drills just shouldn't be seen as "basic" (as in reserved only for newbies). in fact, you'll often see advanced runners doing these even more than beginners. which is sad, because it's beginners who could stand to benefit from them most, particularly since they offer so many results in improving running speed and efficiency while simultaneously promoting injury prevention. this is the main reason advanced runners make such an effort to do these drills on a regular basis--if not at every workout, then at least on a periodic schedule.

do these drills look weird? do they look silly? do they even look embarrassing to do in public? of course they do. but that's because so few people do them, and so few people understand their value. people who do understand their value (i.e., advanced runners) do them, and they do them often.

for newbies who might be scared off from trying them (either because they're afraid to "try the advanced stuff" or "try the weird stuff"), they should take note that one of the reasons advanced runners became advanced runners is because of drills like these...and that maybe the way to get better is to start giving these drills a try as part of a larger training regimen.

go ahead, give them a chance. they'll make a difference. trust me on this...they helped me--and i'm just a dork. if they helped out a loser like me, just imagine what they'd do for you.