High school athletes are running more than ever. Sprints at the end of practice, laps as punishment, or mindless mileage in the off-season. But here’s the truth:
Most conditioning programs don’t actually prepare athletes for the demands of sport.
Instead of building performance, they just build fatigue.
The Problem with Traditional Conditioning
Too often, conditioning is used as a tool to make athletes tired. But tired doesn’t equal better.
Here’s what we see go wrong:
- No structure or progression
- Overuse of long, slow runs
- Punishment-based mindset
- Neglect of energy systems that matter most
This leads to athletes who might be tough—but not necessarily faster, more explosive, or better prepared for the real demands of their sport.
What Good Conditioning Looks Like
At Harper Strength and Speed, we take a more thoughtful approach. We train conditioning like a skill.
A smart program includes:
- Aerobic work to support recovery and long-duration effort
- Anaerobic glycolytic work to handle repeated sprints and short, intense bursts
- Interval-based training that mimics game conditions
Each day has a purpose. We don’t just guess. We build.
Why It Matters
Conditioning isn’t about how hard you can push an athlete.
It’s about how well they can perform, recover, and repeat. A well-conditioned athlete:
- Moves faster, longer
- Recovers quicker between plays
- Avoids injuries due to fatigue
How We Structure Our 3-Day Approach
In our free conditioning eBook, we break down:
- Day 1: Aerobic base work (longer intervals)
- Day 2: Glycolytic intervals (higher intensity)
- Day 3: Repeat sprint & tempo intervals
Each session builds the engine without burning out the athlete.
Want to See It?
We’re giving away our 3-day off-season conditioning plan for free. It’s the exact structure we use with our athletes.
📨 DM us the word “Conditioning” and we’ll send it straight to your inbox.
Harper Strength & Speed 
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