Is Workout Tempo An Indicator Of Athleticism?
I’ve made the connection recently that an athlete’s workout tempo and how they spend their time between workout sets is an indicator of athleticism. When I observe athletes who have lean and muscular physiques they almost always seem to hop around the weight room stretching and moving between sets. In contrast, the athletes who have a “softer” look always seem to drag their way through a workout and often get penalized for sitting down.
When examining performance data, the athletes who have “hyper-tempo” (a word I’m coining) all test in the top 95% on the vertical jump, 10-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle and pull-up rep test.
It’s my belief that more factors come into play when talking about slow workout tempo (like nutrition status & personal stress outside the facility), but if it becomes habitual an athletes’ body doesn’t look or respond the same, often times exhibiting what I call the “drag effect.”
Educating my athletes on optimal nutrition, hydration, supplementation and mental focus while “in-training” has become a priority. Some have made the necessary changes and seen the results, but for others being “chill” is just a way of life. Unfortunately, their athletic window also seems to be closing.
Bottom line, athletes who want results “get after it,” even when they’re resting.
