Most of us were brought up with the limiting beliefs of "you have to walk before you run" - somehow I think Mr. Bolt missed that lesson. Speed training involves running at a pace that is faster than a normal running pace - this type of training can be applied to cycling, swimming, skating and other disciplines too, as it effectively enhances the trainers' speed and stamina.

The overall viewpoint in terms of speed training seems to confer that agility is the key factor of igniting the burst of acceleration, this seems more applicable to the stop start type of sports like soccer, football and that type of field game. When dealing with the running longer distances, or cycling type sports one has to take the endurance factor into account. Therefore it is seen as a combination of endurance, agility and speed that depicts the potential results of that specific individuals endeavor(s).

Various speed training equipment is widely available to assist in these training activities; examples of this type of equipment include: Acceleration ladders, sprint vests, explosion ladders, hand weights and more.

These items are used in techniques and programs to assist with the individuals desired speed increment. The speed training can be done on a resisted or assisted basis, which implies that by utilizing equipment mentioned above the individual can increase speed strength (resisted) and improve stride frequency (assisted).

These training sessions can be combined to incorporate field drills which encompass alternate striding, alternate starting, weaving, accelerating and bounding - these drills are not recommended to be combined with endurance and strength training, and should rather be done in isolation or on alternate training days.

In speed training it is important to target the correct muscles and muscle fiber (fast twitch) types to ensure that the muscles that provide the quick acceleration are the ones that are benefiting from the development and training efforts. One of the most widely known and used techniques in speed training is the 40m sprint (40 yard dash); this sprint is specifically relevant to field games where the athlete is required to perform multiple bursts, over distances comparable to 40m.

The actual process of the 40m sprint entails the initial burst of speed over the first 15m, from the 15m mark to 40m the strides have lengthened and knee height has risen, providing a momentum pushing forward. As sports men and woman strive to improve their so-called 40, trainers worldwide have advocated the increased need for added strength training to be incorporated together with speed training to ensure the best possible results.

Speed training can be effectively applied to assist in a variety of sports including the sports mentioned above. There are training programs for Tennis - enhancing serves and returns, as well as court speed; Baseball- by improving the swing speed the batter improves distance and accuracy; Golf - longer driving; and Basketball - enabling the players to jump higher.

The applications and principles combined correctly are advantageous to practically any sport, and must be incorporated in the right context to obtain maximum results.