For all you track runners

[Riddle]

This is mainly for sprinters, but my question is how can you kick into that extra gear whenever you want to? Basically I'm asking this because I was playing football today and I ran a fly route which is basically a straight line trying to beat the guy covering me. I run about a 4.6/4.7 40 and the guy covering me runs a 4.4. Needless to say, I didn't think I'd be open. The QB threw my direction anyways and the ball was almost there when I looked up and saw it. I thought I was running my hardest and me and the other guy were step for step. The ball was thrown a little too far but everyone said that as soon as I looked up at the ball that I just bursted faster than they'd ever seen me run and I broke about 3 yds of separation in the blink of an eye and caught up to the ball to catch it. Then they said as soon as I caught it I slowed back down and the defender caught me. I didn't think I ran any harder but obviously my adrenaline kicked in and I was able to run faster than normally, but my question is how can I do this on command? I know it's good to be able to burst like that when I need to, but a coach doesn't see that when they're timing me in the 40. I'm just wondering if there is any technique to kick it up a notch when I want to.

[LittleBigs]

well, i cant really help you, even though i do run track. I would kinda like to know where you play and who you play for.?

[Insex]

Just pump faster. Inside your head, make your mind tell your body "FASTER! FASTER! FASTER!" Everything from your feet, knees, hips, and arms should pump faster and faster. At the same time while you're pumping faster, increase the length of your stride as well. So pump faster and make longer strides. Make sure to maintain good form. Don't get sloppy, you'll injure yourself.

When you saw that football hurling towards you, that's exactly what happened. Your adrenaline kicked in, and you immediately thought to yourself to pump faster to get to that football.

Back when I played football my coaches always told me to envision myself as a deer. "Run like a deer!" My football coach always used to say that. It helped me maintain a long stride, while prancing around gracefully like a real deer. In track & field, my hurdling coach told us to envision the ground being covered with hot coals to maintain quick footwork.

[stephenlavin]

i may be wrong buddy but it is a possibility that the guy covering you lost concentration in his stride because the ball was coming in your direction

But i agree with insex ...in some circumstances it is the need or desperation which can lead you to enhance your pace ....you needed to get that ball ...hence you willed yourself to run faster ....i dont know of any techniques so i can only speak from my own experience but i am a strong believer that the mind can definately increase your pace at times of need all be it for short bursts
Maybe this is what happened

[Riddle]

Yea I think it's all a mental thing. I've been told by coaches before when they timed me in the 40 that from what they saw when I was playing, they thought I would run faster. It almost seems like when I'm thinking about running that I run slower, but when my adrenaline kicks in or for some other reason I'm not thinking about running, I run faster. I don't know why, but it seems like the more I concentrate on how I'm running, the slower I run. I think I ran faster this time because I was thinking more about catching the ball than my stride so I just picked up speed without even thinking about it. At first I did think that the guy covering me just slowed down when he looked up for the ball, but afterwords everyone kept saying it seemed like I hit the afterburner for a second to catch the ball and then slowed back down. I guess I'll just attribute it to my adrenaline kicking in and hope that I can get my adrenaline going the next time I get timed in the 40

To answer LittleBigs question, right now I'm playing in a competitive flag football league, but I've been training so I can walk on a UCF. That's why I'm concerned about my 40 time because I know when looking at someone new, that's one of the first things a coach will consider. Especially since I play wide receiver where speed is the most important thing.