Training Methods of Eric Heiden
The origin of this post is from this training forum.
Before the 1980 Olympics it wasn’t uncommon for us to do the following:
Find an old truck tire intertube and cut out about one third of the tire (where the valve is). Seal one end by tying and taping with duct tape.
Fill intertube with either lead shot or pennies until alomost full. Seal off other end. I made several sizes but the biggest ones I figured weighed about 150lbs.
Swing the anaconda on your lower back and assume the speed skating position. Do 1 x 100 squats with each leg. Do that 5 x. Then repeat with both legs. Going down to slightly below 90 degrees.
Typically we did these in a skating position keeping our backs parallel to the floor and keeping your chin in line with the knee of the leg doing the work. The resting leg was slightly behind with the toe just off the floor. Goal was to use all of one leg with no cheating. I would do them either near a wall or table in case I needed to touch something briefly for balance. Arms were usually on my back.
Right after these we would drop the tube then do 15 - 20 squat jumps as high as you can bringing your legs up to your chest a the peak.
Usually the last one you would fall down because you could not support your weight anymore.
..and that was only workout number 1. Usually we did 3 workouts a day.
1. Weights
2. Dryland skating simulation (duckwalk for 10k)
3. Cycling/Running
repeat.
We were training at the OTC at the Springs and I think it was 1978 and a buddy challenged me to see if I could do a wall sit for an hour.
Basically in a sitting position with your back against the wall, legs at 90 degrees. Arms hanging down at your sides.
Legs were shaking like a banshee at the end but I did it. Some squirt supposedly bested my time of 60 minutes with 61, but he didn’t have a witness… you know how that goes.
[…] Training Methods of Eric HeidenThe origin of this post is from this training forum. Before the 1980 Olympics it wasn’t uncommon for us to do the following:. Find an old truck tire intertube and cut out about one third of the tire (where the valve is). … […]
[…] Heiden had him some decent wheels. Good ideas here: Physical Strategies by Tom Furman
Heiden lived in Palo Alto in the early eighties and I got to train with him just as he was begining his cycling career. He rode with the bike club I was with and he and the others also took my HIT weight training class I taught at the gymnastics school.He was amazing and told incredible stories of his training: 600 rep leg press and 300 rep squat sets! No one doubted for a second anything he said. They trained like animals.Great guy.