Abstract

A weighted training vest device adapted to be worn upon an athlete's torso to develop greater strength for running. The vest includes front and rear flexible panels adapted to fit against the wearer's chest and back respectively and a plurality of weights adapted to be affixed to such panels selectively and individually in a predetermined pattern. The panels are sufficiently rigid to maintain the pattern of the weights substantially constant during running by resisting the tendency of the weights to move relative to each other as a result of the dynamic forces imposed by running. The panels also have resilient, slip-resistant interior surfaces to prevent relative movement between the panels and the wearer's skin during running so as to further prevent movement of the weights relative to the wearer's body. The weight patterns on the front and rear panels are substantially identical, horizontally-symmetrical patterns, and each of the weights is detachably affixed to the panels separately so that the weights may be added or removed individually in accordance with the wearer's training level without adversely affecting the balance of the vest.