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Recipient, Jim Hay Memorial Award of the American Society of Biomechanics

Glenn Simmons Endowed Professorship of Applied Physiology & Biomechanics

United Methodist Scholar/Teacher of the Year Award

Faculty Research Award, Simmons School of Education

Emerging Leader at SMU

Joseph E. Levenson Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, Harvard University’s College of Arts and Sciences

Harvard College Award for Teaching Excellence

American Society of Biomechanics

American Physiological Society

American College of Sports Medicine

Sex differences in human running performance: smaller gaps at shorter distances?

Artificially long legs directly enhance long sprint running performance

Does restricting arm motion compromise short sprint running performance?

Real-world walking economy: can laboratory equations predict field energy expenditure?

A general relationship links gait mechanics and running ground reaction forces

Dr. Peter Weyand is a professor and chair of TCU’s Department of Kinesiology and the director of TCU’s Locomotor Performance Laboratory. Weyand received his formative training in the comparative physiology and biomechanics of locomotion at Harvard University’s Concord Field Station. His subsequent work has focused heavily on the scientific basis of high-intensity exercise performance in humans, particularly on sprint running performance. The international scientific community has recognized Weyand’s work in this area. It has been featured in media outlets ranging from Scientific American, PBS and The New York Times to ESPN and Sports Illustrated. He has often served as an expert in Olympic and World Athletics eligibility cases before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. His research subjects through the years have included antelope, emus, rodents and professional athletes with and without limb amputations.

Human Speed

Human Performance

Physical Performance

Biomechanics

Locomotion

Paralympians

English

Texas Christian University Profile

Google Scholar Citations

How much does arm swing affect running speed?

When Science Collides: The Blake Leeper Controversy Unpacked

How Fast Can Humans Go?

Cheating in Sports -- Where Do We Go From Here? | Op-ed

How have players become so big and so fast? Blame a former pole-vaulter

March’s True Madness: Flopping

FYI: What Is The Limit To How Fast A Human Can Run?

A Faster Human: Are We Unique In Our Ability To Get Better?

Fair or foul? Experts split over whether Pistorius has advantage

The Fastest Sprinter Could Run Faster

The Fast Life of Oscar Pistorius

Semi-annual meeting, keynote address

Annual meeting, keynote address

Hay Award Symposium, invited symposium lecture

Keynote lecture, invited

Invited lecture

Annual Meeting, invited lecture

Keynote lecture

Professor & Chair of Kinesiology; Director of the Locomotor Performance Lab

This week’s guest on the Pacey Performance Podcast is Dr. Peter Weyand, Professor of applied physiology and biomechanics at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Prior to his role at SMU, Peter directed research efforts at Harvard University's Concord Field Station, a large animal facility specialising in terrestrial locomotion, and the Locomotion Laboratory of Rice University.

Peter is here to provide in-depth analysis into how to improve speed, including the common methods that can be used and his opinion on the speed training boom on social media and beyond. In that same vein, Peter talks about why academics need to be more critical of the information available and not take it as gospel. There’s also discussion into training techniques, such as the outcomes to look out for in resistance speed training and how to transfer gym-based training to the track.

Rob also asks Peter about the possible misinterpretation between the influence of strength on top speed, and the influence of Mach drills and their desired outcomes. Finally, Peter reveals the questions that people often ask him, including about force velocity profiling, focussing on power, and the ultimate question; “how do I get faster?”. For all this and much more, hit the play button now.

This week’s topics:
• What we know about common methods to improve speed
• Peter’s opinion on the speed training boom
• Why academics need to be more critical of available information
• The outcomes to look out for in resistance speed training
• Transferring gym-based training to the track
• The possible misinterpretation between the influence of strength on top speed
• The influence of Mach drills and desired outcomes
• Force velocity profiling and the questions Peter often sees
• The focus on power
• The most common questions Peter fields, including “How do I get faster?”

Speed training: What we know, what we think we know and what is a good guess

Peter Weyand, Glenn Simmons Professor of Applied Physiology and Biomechanics, directs The SMU Locomotor Performance Laboratory, internationally known for its performance and  research testing. Weyand leads a team of researchers and doctoral students who examine the mechanics of movement, performance, and metabolic energy expenditure and power.

Spotlight Look at the SMU Locomotor Performance Lab

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