You Can't Be Fast Unless You're Strong

Speed is not a talent. It's the output of a chain — and strength is where that chain begins.

In this episode, Coach Chris makes the case that whether you're an athlete chasing a faster first step or just someone who wants to stop feeling slow and beat-up, strength is the foundation everything else is built on. You can't apply force you don't have. That's not motivation — that's physics.

But here's where it gets interesting: if strength leads to speed, why can't powerlifters run fast? They're among the strongest humans alive. Chris answers that question with a breakdown of the strength → power → speed chain — and explains why missing the middle link is the most common mistake in athletic development.

He also covers a piece most coaches never talk about: neuromuscular inhibition. Old injuries — even "healed" ones — can leave invisible brakes on your performance, quietly suppressing muscle output long after the pain is gone. You feel slower than you should. You feel weaker on one side. And because nothing hurts, you assume it's just age.

It might not be. And the fix is probably strength training.

Whether you're trying to reclaim your athletic edge, keep up with your kids, or just move better as you get older — this episode gives you the framework.

Visit catalystgym.com to learn about the OnRamp program.