Tyson Gay, the American record holder in the 100m dash, is gearing up for the London Olympics. He's making up for lost time after dealing with injuries, including a pulled hamstring from the 2008 Olympic Trials that kept him from making finals and a hip surgery in 2011 that kept him off the track for almost a full year. We caught up with Gay to get a look at how the second fastest man in history trained for the 2012 Olympic Trials.
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What is your workout schedule on an average training day?
On an average day for me, I get up at 6:30 AM and I’m in the weight room by 7:15 or 7:30. I lift weights from 7:30 to 8:30, and after that I start training on the track from 9:30 to around 12:30 PM. And that just consists of stretching, strides, and a lot of technical drills.
What is your favorite training drill?
I enjoy doing broken 400s. That’s where I run 300 meters around the track and then I rest maybe 30 seconds or so, maybe a minute at the most, and then I run 100 meters. It’s basically almost running 400 but when you get to 300 meters, you take a little break. Then you run while your legs are fatigued so it kind of helps you run through lactic acid.
What motivates you to work so hard?
I believe one day I can break the world record. I believe I can win races. I believe it, so it’s my faith that allows me to think I can catch someone if I’m losing or push harder through practice. [My mom] is one person in my life I can say who’s always had faith in me as well. She has always told me that I can do it and that there are no shortcuts.
You have to put in the hard work and put the right supplements in your body. Hard work does pay off.
Do Tyson’s Workout
- Run 300 meters
- Rest 30 to 60 seconds
- Run 100 meters
