The LSU track and field teams are gearing up for another banner year this spring and are in the midst of a strenuous fall training regimen designed to help them compete against the nation’s best. The Tigers and Lady Tigers form the premier combined program in all of collegiate track and field with an impressive 31 NCAA championships and 46 Southeastern Conference championships all-time.
Sixth in a nine-part series updating LSU’s progress during the fall training season will focus on the middle distance group.
BATON ROUGE — For members of LSU’s middle distance crew, the second week of November marks a transition in their training regimen each year as they put on the spikes and step onto the track for the first time as they enter the homestretch of the fall season.
And after building a strong endurance base through the months of September and October, the Tigers and Lady Tigers took to the track for the first time this fall on Nov. 10 to begin their speed training.
By introducing speed development into his workouts, LSU assistant head coach Mark Elliott believes that his athletes can begin their gradual climb toward the competition season.
“Our athletes are always excited when they get to put on their spikes and start running on the track instead of just focusing on distance and endurance training,” Elliott said. “Running on the track gives each athlete a better idea of where they are fitness wise and what they need to do to improve in their training. It’s now the time where we start training with the focus on running fast.”
Elliott coaches the LSU middle distance runners through timed intervals on the track two or three times in a week. The squad will continue its speed and endurance training as it preps for its annual test runs before leaving campus for the start of Christmas break.
The 2010 indoor season in just two months away as the Tigers and Lady Tigers compete for the first time Jan. 22 as they play host to the Purple Tiger Invitational at the Carl Maddox Field House.