Aretas Connects Vol. 7 | Unlock Your Speed

The Principles of Athletic Performance

Hey Aretas Performance Community,

This week, we're putting the spotlight on a critical component of athletic success: speed. Whether you're a sprinter, a team sport athlete, or simply looking to enhance your overall athleticism, developing true speed involves more than just running fast. It's a skill built on science, precision, and consistent practice.

At Aretas Performance, our expert coach Drake leads the charge in athletic development, focusing on unlocking your maximum potential. He believes that to truly get faster, you need to understand the principles behind speed development and master the fundamentals.

The Science of Speed: More Than Just Running

Speed is a complex skill—a blend of power, agility, and efficiency. Think of it like mastering an instrument: it requires fundamental techniques, consistent practice, and personalized refinement. It's not just about how quickly you can move your legs, but how effectively your entire body works together. Drake emphasizes that sprinting is a skill that needs to be practiced consistently for maximum effectiveness.

The core principles of speed development revolve around:

  • Building a Strong Foundation: Before you can truly explode, you need robust underlying strength. This involves foundational training that targets the muscles crucial for powerful movement, enhancing your ability to generate force.

  • Mastering the Basics of Body Control: Efficient speed comes from precise control over your body's movements. This means understanding how to use your core, arms, and legs in sync for seamless transitions and powerful strides.

  • Optimal Mobility: Restricted movement is a speed killer. Enhancing your range of motion allows for greater power output, reduces injury risk, and enables a more fluid, explosive stride.

  • Form Competency: Proper mechanics are non-negotiable. Learning and refining correct sprinting form ensures you're generating maximum force efficiently and safely, minimizing wasted energy and maximizing acceleration.

This comprehensive approach, focusing on targeted drills and personalized instruction, is what sets effective speed training apart. It’s about building an individualized path that helps you get faster, stronger, and more mobile, allowing you to run faster and be better at your sport.

Drake's Approach: Precision & Performance

At Aretas Performance, our speed training goes beyond generic drills. Drake's methodology focuses on:

  • Individualized Assessment & Plan: Every athlete starts with an assessment to identify their unique strengths and areas for improvement. This allows us to build a tailored program specifically designed for your body and your sport.

  • Targeted Drills: We implement drills designed to directly address your specific needs, helping you overcome weaknesses and amplify your natural athletic gifts.

  • Sprinting Form Explained: We provide clear explanations and hands-on coaching of proper sprinting mechanics, breaking down the intricate components of efficient running so you truly understand the "why" behind each movement.

  • Progressive Development: Speed is a journey. Our programs are structured to build progressively, ensuring continuous improvement, skill retention, and long-term athletic growth.

This program will make you faster, stronger, and more mobile, allowing you to excel in your sport and achieve your athletic goals.

Quick Tip for Instant Speed

Want a simple way to feel faster right now? Focus on your body position and leg action. As you sprint, concentrate on maintaining a slight forward lean from your ankles, as if you're pushing a car. This alignment is crucial for efficient power transfer—you should feel like you're driving through the ground, rather than standing straight up.

Simultaneously, focus on driving your knees vigorously up and down, rather than trying to overly stride out. This powerful, vertical piston-like action of the knees is key to generating explosive force and maximizing your acceleration. It's a fundamental adjustment that can make a noticeable difference in your perceived speed!

Unlock Your Speed This Summer With Drake's Speed Camp!

Are you ready to take your athleticism to the next level? Drake's highly anticipated Speed Camp for high school athletes kicks off this week! This camp is designed to help you develop explosive power, agility, and speed, providing the foundational skills and advanced techniques necessary to outperform your competition.

Camp Details:

  • Focus: Developing explosive power, agility, and speed, with an emphasis on proper mechanics and individualized pathways.

  • Schedule: Monday and Friday mornings

    • Group 1: 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM

    • Group 2: 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

  • Dates: Running from June 16th to September 5th

Don't miss this opportunity to train with Drake and gain a competitive edge this summer!

Ready to get faster and dominate your sport? Email Drake for more information or to register for the Speed Camp.

Other Updates from Aretas Performance

We’re keeping the energy high this summer!

  • Fall Sports Prep: Summer means we’re already gearing up for fall sports! If you're looking for sport-specific training programs to get ahead for the upcoming season, email Drake for personalized options.

  • Rooted Nutrition Success: We’ve received fantastic feedback about our new Rooted Nutrition coaching! Don't miss out on fueling your performance. Check out the Rooted Nutrition website here and remember your exclusive Aretas promo code (ARETAS) for 20% off your first monthly membership payment. Or, commit to long-term success and get your first month FREE when you sign up for a 6-month or 12-month add-on plan (available for current Aretas Physical Therapy or Aretas Performance clients).

  • Golf Fitness at The Wisconsin Club: Aretas Performance, in conjunction with Catalyst Golf, is officially heading up the golf fitness and performance programs at The Wisconsin Club Country Club (TWCCC)! We're excited to elevate every golfer's game with dynamic junior and adult camps, precise movement screens, and specialized performance training. For full details, email Mitch.

  • Rise & Grind on the Beach: Our Rise & Grind workouts are going strong, and we're having a blast on Bradford Beach! For a fun, effective outdoor workout, join Mitch and Volley Life on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 AM. Check out the website here for more details and to register.

We're passionate about helping every athlete reach their peak performance, and every individual thrive. Thank you for being a valued part of the Aretas Performance community.

In Excellence,

The Aretas Performance Team