How do I improve my finishing speed?
Fast finishing speed is a product of power and strength endurance. You need to have a basic level of speed whilst also having the endurance to be fresh enough at the end of the race to be able to use it.
To improve your finishing kick you need to train your body to be able to recruit fast twitch muscles fibres at the end of a race when you are in a state of fatigue. A good way to do this is to incorporate some short hill sprints once a week. If you can find a place where there is a flat section, a short hill and then another flat section at the top of the hill then this is ideal.
Run at a fast pace for 30 seconds on the flat section to the hill, sprint up the hill for 10 seconds and continue that sprint for 15-20 seconds at the top of the hill. After taking a slow walk/jog recovery back down the hill, repeat this 5 times.
Louise has been running for over 20 years, with the last 16 of those at International level. She has represented Grea...