Let’s be honest—watching your young athlete run can sometimes be… painful. You love them, you support them, but deep down, you’re wondering if they’re auditioning for a role as a newborn deer instead of trying to keep up with their teammates. Arms flailing, legs moving in separate directions, and a stride that makes you question if they’ve ever actually run before.
And then, they see it too. That moment when their friend blows past them in a race, effortlessly floating across the field while your kid looks like they’re stomping through quicksand. Their confidence takes a hit, and suddenly, sports aren’t as fun anymore.
But here’s the good news—most of this can be fixed. Speed isn’t just about being “naturally fast.” It’s about mechanics, strength, and repetition. And thankfully, experts like Les Spellman and the Feed the Cats approach have outlined exactly how to help young athletes move better, run faster, and stop looking like a baby giraffe learning to walk.
The Best Exercises to Help Your Athlete Run Faster
- Acceleration Drills – Teaching your athlete how to explode out of their stance is crucial. Short sprints, wall drills, and resisted runs help them generate more power and better body angles.
- A-Skips & B-Skips – These drills are gold for coordination. They help your kid develop rhythm, knee drive, and the ability to actually control their limbs when running.
- Pogos & Ankling Drills – Fast feet equal fast athletes. These exercises improve foot stiffness and ground contact time, so your athlete isn’t wasting energy with every step.
- Flying Sprints – If you want them to stop looking like they’re running in slow motion, you need top-end speed work. Flying sprints teach them how to open up their stride and move with confidence.
- Strength Work – No, they don’t need to be deadlifting cars, but bodyweight exercises, sled pushes, and explosive jumps will give them the power they need to accelerate.
The GRIT Program: Where Serious Athletes Get Faster
If your athlete is tired of being outperformed and wants to level up their game, the GRIT program is for them.
📅 Starts March 31st
📍 Training twice per week
🔥 Focus: Speed, agility, strength, and competition
This program is designed for the serious athlete—the one who wants to be first in sprints, faster on the court or field, and confident in their movements. Each session will push them to improve their mechanics, build explosive power, and compete against other driven athletes so they can see real progress.
If they’re ready to stop running like a newborn deer and start moving with speed and confidence, GRIT is the answer.
🔗 Register here: https://fit-strength-performance.webflow.io/programs/grit-spring
Because let’s face it—there’s only so long you can watch them run like a baby deer before you start second-guessing that whole "athlete" thing.
📩 If you have additional questions text 585-678-5232
