At FAST Running, data is part of our coaching.
But it is not the focus.
The focus is always the athlete.
Data simply helps us coach them better.
Measuring What Matters
Modern sport offers endless ways to collect information.
Timing systems.
Video analysis.
Performance metrics.
But more data does not automatically mean better coaching.
At FAST, we focus on what actually informs performance:
- Fly times to understand max velocity
- Trial and competition results to model race execution
- Video analysis across acceleration, transition, and upright mechanics
- Training load to manage fatigue and recovery
Each piece of data has a purpose.
If it doesn’t inform a decision, we don’t prioritise it.
From Data to Decisions
The value of data is not in collection.
It is in application.
Across the season, data guides key coaching decisions:
- Acceleration inefficiencies identified → sled work introduced to reinforce horizontal force
- Drop-off in speed late in runs → targeted speed endurance work implemented
- Signs of fatigue or overload → volume reduced to protect performance
- Technical inconsistencies → reinforced through specific constraints and drills
These are not theoretical adjustments.
They are practical, immediate, and athlete-specific.
Individual Athletes, Individual Responses
No two athletes respond to training in the same way.
Data allows us to move beyond assumptions.
Some athletes require more exposure to high-speed running.
Others require less volume to maintain quality.
Some improve through technical refinement.
Others through physical development.
By tracking trends over time, we can adjust accordingly.
This is how group training becomes individualised.
Building Confidence Through Clarity
Data is not just for coaches.
It also supports athletes.
When athletes see their progress — in times, in movement quality, in consistency — it builds confidence. It reinforces that the work they are doing is effective.
It removes guesswork.
And in high performance environments, clarity matters.
Protecting the Athlete
Being Athlete First means more than driving performance.
It means protecting it.
Data helps us:
- Manage training loads across weeks and competition phases
- Identify early signs of fatigue
- Reduce unnecessary volume
- Maintain speed without overexposure
This is especially critical in the lead-up to major competitions, where the balance between readiness and fatigue is fine.
Coaching Still Leads
Data does not replace coaching.
It supports it.
Observations, experience, communication, and understanding the athlete remain central to every decision.
The role of data is to sharpen those decisions — not make them.
At FAST Running, we don’t chase numbers.
We use them.
To guide training.
To support athletes.
To make better decisions.
Because being Athlete First means using every tool available — including data — to help athletes perform, improve, and stay in the sport for the long term.
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