What Roger Clemens Workout Routine Has Done For Him

Roger Clemens has racked up an impressive career – whether you consider the awards, the wins or the length. His powerful pitches, impressive lasting power and sheer size have caused some conjecture about steroid use. Most, however, are satisfied with his explanation – the Roger Clemens workout routine. It is a routine that few, if any, younger major league players can keep up with.

Working Out with Roger

Early in his career, Roger Clemens kept his legs in shape with long-distance running. Often he would run four to five miles a day. He might even put in a three mile jog on the day he would pitch. The Roger Clemens workout routine now concentrates on intense aerobic exercise. He also combines power weight lifting for the lower body with light weight work for his rotator cuff and agility drills.

The basis of the Roger Clemens workout routine is a routine of four workouts. There are two days of the lower-body weight lifting, a day for upper body work and four sessions of cardio. All workouts include abdominal drills that equal 750 sit ups. The day after he pitches a game, he performs the toughest workout and they decrease until the day before he pitches again. Besides the workouts designed to increase strength and agility, Clemens throws twice between pitching starts instead of the once that is normal for major league pitchers.

Included in the Roger Clemens workout routine is the normal throwing session two days after a pitching start which consists of 35 to 40 pitches at velocities of up to 80%. Additionally, though Clemens will have a short session the next day, too in which he will throw from a distance of 55 feet instead of the full 60 feet, six inches. This helps develops the ability to throw low, which is more difficult from the shorter distance.

The intensity of the Roger Clemens workout routine gets Clemens respected by the younger players who can’t keep up the old man. The results are beyond question. With seven Cy Young Awards, an MVP, two pitching triple crowns, and six times in the World Series - including two wins under his belt he is formidable. In addition, he was number 15 on the Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players in 2005 and won the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year award five times. While Roger Clemens may have achieved the success of his youth because of talent, it’s a good bet that his longevity is due to the Roger Clemens workout routine.