Alright, so, “James Conner 40 Time,” huh? Let me tell you, chasing that number was a whole thing. It wasn’t just about running; it was about figuring out what makes a dude like Conner tick on the track.
First off, I watched a ton of film. I mean, hours. Just trying to see his start, his stride, how he explodes off the line. You can’t just copy someone, but you can learn what to look for.
Then I hit the track. I started with just basic sprints. Like, 50-yard dashes, 100-yard sprints, just getting my legs firing. I focused on my form, making sure I wasn’t wasting energy. High knees, good arm swing, the whole shebang.
My Routine Looked Something Like This:
- Warm-up: Dynamic stretches, light jogging (15 minutes)
- Drills: A-skips, B-skips, butt kicks (3 rounds of 20 yards each)
- Sprints: 6 x 60-yard sprints (focus on acceleration)
- Rest: Active recovery – light walk, stretching
The start was the hardest part. Getting that explosive first step is key. I tried a bunch of different stances, tweaked my arm placement, everything. I ended up going with a staggered stance that felt most natural, where I could drive off my back leg.
I used a timing app on my phone for the first few runs. Yeah, I know, not the most accurate. But it gave me a baseline. Then I got a buddy to help with a proper stopwatch, which was way better.
My first few attempts were… rough. Like, 5.3, 5.4 seconds. Totally embarrassing. But I kept at it, focusing on the little things. Every week I felt like I was getting faster, more efficient.
I started incorporating plyometrics. Box jumps, jump squats, all that stuff. That helped with my explosiveness, no doubt. My legs were burning, but it paid off.
Fueling myself was also key. I ate cleaner, focused on protein and carbs for energy. Cut out the junk food. Felt like a machine after a while.
Finally, after weeks of grinding, I hit a 4.98. Still not James Conner speed, obviously. But for a regular dude like me, I was stoked. It wasn’t about beating him, it was about pushing myself and seeing what I could do. And honestly, the process was way more fun than I expected.
