Fitness training for 400m runners is all about getting
your body in the right condition to be able to do the hard track speed training.
This may make it sound trivial, but the truth is that it is vital, as without
it you will not be able to do the track work. Either you will not be fit enough
to generate lactate levels or speed required or you will simply break down (through
injury or illness) and have to take a break from training whilst you recover.
The fitness needed can be attained in a number of ways, but the link is that
they are all type of aerobic work, working on the cardio-vascular system and, hopefully,
also low intensity work on the muscles needed in your event.
The most common two of these for athletes would be running - long slow runs
or possibly, slow interval sessions - often in the form of a fartlek - and
circuit training.
