Athletics Strength and Conditioning - Basics You Need to Know

In athletics, strength and conditioning programmes are an absolute must to be successful. There is more than one way to skin a cat though. Your exercises will depend on your best events and the time available.

There are certain basics though that you will find yourself doing be you a sprinter or hammer thrower. Core exercises like back squats, dead lifts and bench presses just can't be avoided. They will benefit large areas of the body, one of the goals of any athletics strength and conditioning work out.

The other kind of exercises you might do - known as assistance exercises - might depend on your event. If you are a hurdler say, or a long jumper working the calf muscles is key to get the power you need. Any athletics strength and conditioning work has to be targeted like this. Even decathletes will focus on the areas were they are weak.

Another area which is underestimated is variety - keeping the mind fresh. For example, have you considered incorporating some swimming into you exercise regime? Tim Don, one of the world's leading triathletes is a great proponent for example. Swimming has the benefit of easing that grind on the joints of weight lifting or running, traditional cores of most athletics strength and conditioning regimens.

Even if you have as little as an hour and a half a week spare, you can get in some good strength and conditioning work by knowing the right areas of the body to target and using your time intelligently.