Within the realm of observe and subject, few names carry as a lot weight as Lance Brauman. Because the founding father of Pure Athletics and the coach behind a number of the quickest sprinters in U.S. historical past, Brauman’s philosophy has reshaped what it means to practice for velocity within the trendy period. His affect stretches from previous champions like Tyson Homosexual to present world chief Noah Lyles, the quickest American within the 200-meter dash.
Brauman’s roots hint again to his days as a highschool lengthy jumper, however it was teaching that finally claimed him—one thing he attributes to household. “In case your father was a building employee, I’d be in building. Mine was a observe coach,” he as soon as stated. That lineage led him to LSU, the place he started his teaching profession as an assistant underneath Dennis Shaver.
His subsequent cease was Barton Group Faculty, the place he grew to become head coach and turned the small Kansas faculty right into a nationwide powerhouse. Whereas there, Brauman coached future Olympic and World Champions, together with Derrick Brew, Veronica Campbell-Brown, and Tyson Homosexual. After a number of NJCAA nationwide titles, he was employed by the College of Arkansas, the place he continued his success with athletes like Homosexual and Wallace Spearmon.
In 2007, Lance Brauman launched Pure Athletics in Clermont, Florida—a coaching floor that might develop into a world sprinting hub. His roster consists of Olympic gold medalists and World Champions. Noah Lyles, the present 200m American document holder (19.31), trains underneath Brauman, as does two-time Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo. The outcomes communicate for themselves: constant podium finishes, world-leading occasions, and championship pedigree.
Lance Brauman locations main emphasis on top-end velocity. “It doesn’t matter how proficient a starter you’ve got if he can’t end,” he explains. He makes use of technical drills just like the “A” skip to show vertical leg drive and scale back inefficient overextension. His philosophy is structured however adaptable—coaching selections are dictated by efficiency metrics, not assumptions.
He additionally emphasizes not over-coaching. “Set clear expectations, then modify primarily based on what the athlete exhibits you,” he advises. It’s a practical, athlete-first strategy that builds each belief and outcomes.
Energy Coaching: The Science of Pace
Understanding that sprinting is a operate of pressure software, Brauman integrates weight coaching into his routine. He highlights the equation:
Pressure = Mass × Acceleration
By rising an athlete’s pressure output, Brauman enhances their capability to speed up and keep excessive speeds, a precept evident within the performances of his protégés. His program incorporates explosive compound lifts—equivalent to cleans, squats, and sled pushes—to construct floor pressure manufacturing and decrease time spent on the bottom throughout every stride.
Brauman occasions energy blocks strategically all through the coaching season, complementing dash mechanics whereas growing the ability and elasticity wanted for elite velocity. For him, the load room isn’t a separate ingredient—it’s a part of the dash equation.
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Recommendation for Athletes and Coaches
When requested what athletes can do to get sooner, Brauman retains it easy: “Observe individuals getting outcomes.” He advises sprinters to grasp the fundamentals—type, drills, and restoration—and tune out distractions.
FORM: In accordance with Brauman, one of the crucial frequent errors he sees is extreme bottom mechanics—athletes letting their foot swing too far behind them throughout their stride. This slows down floor contact time and reduces stride effectivity. To right this, he emphasizes front-side mechanics and correct posture drills, utilizing wall drills, wicket runs, and sled marches to bolster upright positioning and a quick, direct foot strike underneath the hips.
DRILLS: His go-to dash drills embody the “A” skip, excessive knees, bounding, and wall switches—all designed to bolster rhythm, posture, and activation of key sprinting muscular tissues. He implements these drills persistently in warm-ups and technical periods, step by step layering complexity primarily based on every athlete’s developmental stage.
RECOVERY: Brauman believes restoration is simply as essential because the exercise itself. His athletes endure common gentle tissue work, chilly water immersion, and structured restoration runs to handle fatigue. He additionally emphasizes sleep and individualized relaxation blocks primarily based on athlete readiness and cargo.
DYNAMIC VS RIGID TRAINING: Brauman defines dynamic coaching as a system that evolves with the athlete. He adapts programming primarily based on how they reply to stimulus—adjusting quantity, depth, or technical focus weekly. Inflexible coaching, in his view, locks athletes into cycles which will not match their bodily or psychological state. His methodology stays versatile however intentional, with clear aims which are measured and refined over time.
For coaches, his recommendation is equally clear: Don’t overcomplicate. Let efficiency lead. Set objectives, however don’t let ego intrude with changes. Coaching ought to be dynamic, not inflexible.
Lance Brauman could not all the time search the highlight, however his athletes usually dwell in it. His teaching has produced nationwide data, Olympic medals, and world titles. However greater than that, his affect has redefined how velocity is taught, measured, and mastered in American observe and subject. The dash renaissance is right here—and Brauman’s fingerprints are throughout it.
