Alright, let me tell you about this Leighton Vander Esch 40 time thing I got into. It was kinda wild, not gonna lie.
So, it all started when I was watching some old NFL highlights, you know, just being a couch quarterback. And I stumbled across some clips of Vander Esch. Dude was a beast. I got curious about his combine performance, especially that 40-yard dash time. I remembered hearing it was pretty good for a linebacker, but I couldn’t recall the exact number.
First thing I did was hit up Google. Typed in “Leighton Vander Esch 40 time” and boom, the internet delivered. I saw a bunch of different sites claiming different numbers, but most of them seemed to agree it was somewhere around 4.65 seconds. Which, for a dude his size, is seriously impressive.
But then I got thinking, “Could I even come close to that?” I mean, I’m no NFL linebacker, but I’m not exactly a couch potato either. I go to the gym a few times a week, do some cardio, lift some weights. I figured, why not give it a shot? Just for fun, you know?
Now, I don’t have a fancy track or anything. So, I measured out 40 yards in my backyard. Used a measuring tape and everything, tried to be as accurate as possible. It’s not perfectly flat, got some bumps and dips, but hey, it’s what I got.
I warmed up a bit – some stretches, a little jogging. Didn’t want to pull a hamstring or something stupid. Then I got into my stance. Tried to mimic what I’ve seen the pros do. Low to the ground, one hand out in front, ready to explode.
I didn’t have anyone to time me, so I used my phone’s stopwatch. Not the most precise method, but it’s good enough for a rough estimate. I figured I’d do a few runs and take the best time.
The first run was… humbling. I felt slow and awkward. My legs were heavy, and I stumbled a bit at the start. I clocked in at around 5.8 seconds. Yikes. Definitely not NFL material.
I rested for a few minutes, stretched again, and tried to focus on my technique. I tried to get a better start, drive harder with my legs, and stay low. The second run was a little better, around 5.5 seconds.
I did a few more runs, tweaking my form each time. I even tried watching some videos of sprinters to see if I could pick up any tips. My best time ended up being around 5.3 seconds. Still a far cry from Vander Esch’s 4.65, but a definite improvement from that first run.
Here’s a breakdown of what I learned:
- Starting is key. Getting a good start can shave off precious tenths of a second.
- Form matters. Staying low and driving with your legs is crucial.
- Practice makes (slightly) better. I improved my time just by doing a few runs and focusing on my technique.
Overall, it was a fun little experiment. It gave me a new appreciation for how athletic those NFL players really are. I mean, running a 4.65 40-yard dash at Vander Esch’s size? That’s just insane. I’m gonna stick to watching them on TV, I think.
It also reminded me that even if you’re not a professional athlete, it’s still good to challenge yourself and push your limits. Who knows, maybe with some serious training, I could even break the 5-second barrier someday. But for now, I’m happy with my 5.3. And maybe a beer.
