How To Sprint Faster

Everything you need to know to sprint faster than you ever had before

How To Sprint Faster

19 Key Factors That Will Make You Sprint Faster

Sprinting, which is running at high speed for short periods of time, can be both exhilarating, and enjoyable. You can transform your skills by mastering the right technique, in order to learn how to sprint faster. If you want to improve your running skills, create a more efficient running schedule, and be able to sprint faster, then you have come to the right place. Continue reading to find out everything you need.


1. Sprinting Technique

Sprinting, which is running at high speed for short periods of time, can be both exhilarating, and enjoyable. You can transform your skills by mastering the right technique, in orde r to learn how to sprint faster. If you want to improve your running skills, create a more efficient running schedule, and be able to sprint faster, then you have come to the right place. Continue reading to find out everything you need.

Sprint technique: Keeping an eye on your sprint technique will help you run faster and more efficiently. You can focus on foot placement, arm swing, leg drive and leg drive.

Warm-up and Cool-down: Proper warm-ups and cool downs can prepare you for sprinting and prevent injury. This could include light cardio and dynamic stretches.


2. Plyometrics

Plyometrics are quick and explosive movements that can improve speed and power. You can do jump squats and box jumps as well as other explosive movements.

3. Strength training

Speed training: Including drills and exercises that improve speed in your training can make a significant difference. You should look for workouts that emphasize strength and power as well as proper sprinting form.

Strengthening your core and legs can increase your power when sprinting. This will allow you to run faster. This can be achieved by doing leg exercises such as squats, lunges and other leg exercises.

For maximum speed, form drills are essential. Focus on your arm swing, leg drive and maintaining an upright posture.

4. Take more steps in your sprint action

You should take more steps. It may seem like taking more steps will result in a faster pace. You can't keep your feet on the ground if you move slower. If done correctly, shorter strides can actually help you speed up.

Over-striding can cause you to lose your form. Your front foot is a brake for your whole body. It struts in front of you. This forces you to balance on your feet, which can lead to bouncing that is neither good for form nor speed.

You won't feel as tired if you keep your stride regular.

5. Flexibility

Being flexible can make you more efficient when sprinting and help you reach your maximum speed. Flexibility can be maintained by stretching and foam rolling.

6. Lean a little bit forward

A difference of two degrees can make the difference between a good sprint and a great one. [4]

It doesn't mean you have to move all your weight forward. Instead, it should be a constant struggle to keep from falling. You can move faster if you have a slight incline.

You should not lean back. You may feel tempted to lean back, or even look up as you near the finish line. This can also slow you down. When your sprint is over, you can look around.

7. Actively use your arms

Your arms are your best weapon. If you move your arms in the right direction, your arms can propel you forward. Your arms should be able to pump with your legs to propel you forward.

8. Start sprinting with your head down and body straight

Start a race by keeping your head down and your body straight when you get out of the blocks. As the race progresses, your body will become more upright. You should be relatively straight after about 30m.

Imagine making an L-shaped shape with your arm. Your relaxed fists should reach your chin, and your elbows should be pulled back.

9. You must push yourself

You must push yourself. Sprints should not be slowed down. You will lose precious time if you move slower than your maximum speed. [5] Do not feel the need for slowing down. Instead, focus on moving forward. Start a little slower if this is an issue for you. You'll end up finishing faster than you started.

10. Breathe deeply.

You should always be synchronizing your breathing and your steps. [6]

It is not clear whether breathing through the mouth or nose is better. It is important to ensure you get enough oxygen. You can try both, and find what works for you. [7]

Try inhaling more deeply if you feel tired, but not exhausted. [8] Your muscles may just be in need of more oxygen.

You should also work on improving your running form and breathing. It's important to pay attention to your breathing while you warm up, so that you can do it properly and deeply during your sprint.

11. Mental Preparation

Mental preparation is another important aspect of improving sprint speed. Focusing on your goals can help you achieve your full potential and maintaining a positive outlook will make it easier to perform at your best.

12. Eat healthy food

It is important to adhere to the dietary guidelines that all people can benefit from. However, athletes have special dietary requirements.

Carbohydrates are essential as they will give you energy and strength. You can choose from bread, pasta, potatoes, and cereals. [9]

For muscle building, you will also need additional protein. You should consider lean proteins like cottage cheese and turkey.

Usain Bolt, the champion sprinter, eats yams and pasta, rice, chicken, pork and avoids fast food. [10]

People who are more active will need more calories in a given day. Even if you're working out, make sure to have a healthy breakfast each day. [11]

You should prepare for a run by preparing the right food. You should avoid power foods for a few hours prior to a run. Your stomach shouldn't be upset during the race.

13. Drink plenty of water

Keep hydrated. Because of all the exercise that you will be doing, you'll likely lose a lot through sweating. To stay hydrated, drink plenty of water. It's even more crucial if you are training in the sun. [13]


It is a good rule of thumb to drink a pint for every pound lost after a workout. To get an idea of how much water you should be drinking, weigh yourself before and afterwards. For example, a high school football player might lose five pounds due to sweating after practice.

14. Power Development & Regularly visiting a gym

You should visit a gym at least twice per week to learn proper weightlifting and strength training. [14]

Weightlifting that is really challenging (but not too heavy that it makes you feel sick) will condition your muscles to sprint by making them stronger and more resilient to soreness.

Each gym is unique and each machine will be different. Make sure you choose one that focuses on your legs.

Do not push yourself too hard as it can cause serious injury. Slowly work your way up to heavier weights.

You can also strength train at home if you don't feel confident enough to start weight-training at the gym.

Power development is the key to increasing your sprint speed. You can achieve this by combining strength training with plyometrics and other exercises that emphasize explosiveness.

15. Your leg muscles should be strengthened.

Running fast is dependent on your leg muscles. To strengthen your quad muscles, use a squat-machine. You can do a variety of exercises like jumping squats or lifts. You can also strengthen your legs with a variety of barbell exercises:[15]

Do deadlifts. A long bar that can hold a lot of weight is ideal. Place some weight on the bar, then squat down to pick it up. Next, stand straight. Next, bend forward using your back. Now hold onto the bar and try to get it to touch your feet. This should be felt in your hamstrings. These are the most important muscles to run. [16]

The "power clean" is a technique that requires you to squat down and pick up a long, heavy barbell. Next, stand up quickly while simultaneously moving your arm. [17]

Barbell squats. Place a long barbell on your shoulders and hold it in place using both of your hands. Next, take a wide stance and squat, keeping your chin parallel with the ground. [18]

16. Do some abdominal exercises.

Although it takes time to strengthen your abdominal muscles, it will make life easier. It can help you avoid injuries.

You can do some good ab exercises by holding a weight bar (25-45 pounds) or hand weights and doing some sit-ups. [19]

Also, work on your lower abs. A pole or other similar device can be used to work on your lower abs. Grab it tightly and lie down. You should keep your legs together, and slowly move them up and down. [20] If you feel a burn in your bottom, it means that the technique is working.

17. Your shoulders are important

For a sprint, your shoulders are crucial. Your body will feel more agile and controlled if your shoulders are used. Spend some time using any bench press or shoulder press that you have at your gym.

Also, bench presses help to strengthen your chest muscles.

Take care when you are working around your neck and shoulders. This can cause severe pain and may require you to stop doing your exercise routine for a while.

18. Run uphill

Run uphill. Running uphill is great for your lungs, your legs muscles, and it naturally improves form. [21] You will find yourself naturally reaching for your toes and leaning forward.


Your body is like a car. Sprinting is accelerating. You are your engine so strengthening your legs will improve your performance.


Hill sprints can be described as a combination of weight-lifting and sprinting. Hill sprints are great for building your calves muscles and burning calories. [22]

19. Rest Days

For optimal performance, recovery and regeneration are crucial. You can also include rest days and active recovery methods such as foam rolling or light cardio.

Other Important Things To Remember When Learning How to Sprint Faster

1. Get warm. Before you can start sprinting, you need to be warm and loose. You can do this by combining jogging with dynamic stretches before you move on to running drills.

Begin by jogging around the track at a moderate pace. [23] You're only warming up your muscles, so don't burn too much energy.

It was once a common practice to stretch before running. Experts now warn that stretching before exercising can lead to injury. [24]

Dynamic stretches are a better alternative. Instead of holding a stretch in one position, these gentle arm and leg movements are performed in a continuous, smooth motion. [25]

You can, for example, stand parallel to a wall, and swing your outside leg forward and back, increasing the height with each repetition. Next, stretch your other leg by turning around.

Stretching out areas that are stiff or injured (e.g. sore hamstrings) may be beneficial before you start your main workout.


2. Do some drills. Do some drills once you feel limber and warmed up. Running drills can be performed. You start at a fast pace and then accelerate to sprinting speed. You can also use other drills to help sprinters.

Walking with high knees: Keep your knees bent while you walk. [26]

Arm drills: Use your elbows to make L's with the arms. Make a 90 degree angle. Swing your arms forward and backward using your shoulders. Alternate movements: Drive the elbow of one arm back and the elbow on the other arm up to your face. Keep your head up to your chin. Once you feel comfortable, increase your speed. For as long as possible, go as fast as possible. [27]

Long strides: Use your legs to take long strides. To bring your leg up, use high knees and keep your knees high. You want to go as far as possible in as short a time as possible. Do not place too much weight on your front leg, especially the balls of your feet. You might lose your balance and trip if you do this. [28]

Reverse your position and use your back pedals to propel you forward. Turn your hips and kick forward with your heels.

Alternate between sprinting and jogging: Jog for 10 meters (9.1m) and then sprint for 50 metres (45.7m). This is a great exercise for shifting gears. The sudden changes in pace improve your "burst speed," which will help you sprint well. This is a great way to increase your endurance and cardio fitness.


3. You can create a workout program that works for you. Because everyone is different, there is no one right way to exercise. However, it is a good idea to allow at least three days for speed work and two days for weight lifting. Here is an example of a schedule:

Monday (Speed Day): Run ten 80-meter stretches (i.e. Run 80-meter dashes five more times, taking 2 minutes breaks between each one. There are six 70-meter stretches. There are four 60-meter stretching. There are three 20-meter stretches. One 100-meter stretch.

Tuesday (Weight-Lifting Day), go to a weightlifting gym and do everything. Keep your muscles strong for running and sprinting.

Wednesday Speed/Endurance Day: Four 300-meter runs. This type of run is important and you should give your best. Endurance training strengthens your heart, making you more efficient.

Thursday (Semi Speed Day): Five 200-meter stretches and three 100-meter runs, plus two 50-meter stretches.

Friday, Weight-Lifting Day 2: Return to the gym to increase your challenge level. When you feel that you have mastered a piece of equipment or exercise, you can move on to the next challenge. Your body will learn to move in a certain way and you'll be able to do more of the same activity. Keep your workout routine varied to avoid this.

Remember to warm up and cool down before you start your workout.

Enjoy the weekend off. It is important to allow your body to rest and give your muscles a break.

Optimizing Your Performance

1. Make sure you have the right gear. You don't have to spend hundreds on shoes and clothes if your goal is to run faster. But top-of the-the-line gear is useful for those who are competitive or want to set world records.

Shoes made for sprinters are best. A lightweight shoe with sprint spikes is a must. Sprint spikes will make it easier to spend your time on your feet and reduce your weight.

Your shoes should be the right size. If you wear them for too long, improperly fitting shoes can cause serious injury.

Choose the right clothes. Comfort is key. Your workout clothes should fit well and maintain the correct temperature. You don't have to buy compression clothing for your lower limbs unless you like their feel. They don't improve performance, according to research. [30]

Grab some sprinting blocks. You can get a set of blocks that Olympic sprinters used to sprint from if you are serious about your sport. These blocks will help you get to the start line. They should be available at your nearest sporting goods shop.


2. Run with other people. Running with friends or on a track team is almost certain to increase your speed. You will be motivated if you have some friendly competition. [32]

Running with friends, whether it's on a row or on a track can help you find the motivation to do better. You will be able to see people around you (or zooming ahead of them) and keep you on your toes.


3. You can time yourself. Sprinting is all about speed and time. You can track your progress to see if you are getting faster.

Running regularly is the best way to improve your time. You will keep setting personal records by staying in shape and pushing yourself to the limit.

You probably want to set new personal records. You should only do this 2 to 3 times per day. Once you have been doing it for a while, your performance will begin to drop. As you get tired, you'll get frustrated and be unable to match previous efforts.


4. Cool down. You can keep your joints loose and prevent injury by doing light exercises such as jogging and stretching your muscles for the last five to ten minute after a sprinting workout. Stretch your legs, ankles and arms.

Stretching can help remove lactic acid from your muscles, which can cause soreness and swelling. It also helps build up the muscle tissue faster.

This is important for any exercise, but it's especially important for running, as the entire body uses it. For more information on cool down stretching, see How to Stretch.

To make progress and improve your sprinting skills, you don't have to be exhausted at the end of each run.











References

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  3. http://breakingmuscle.com/running/scientifically-proven-tips-for-faster-sprinting

  4. http://breakingmuscle.com/running/scientifically-proven-tips-for-faster-sprinting

  5. http://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=pthms_honors

  6. http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/exercises/techniques-for-proper-breathing-while-running.html

  7. http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/bodywork/fitness-coach/Should-I-Breathe-Through-My-Nose-or-My-Mouth.html

  8. http://www.active.com/running/articles/running-and-breathing-a-lesson-in-oxygen-intake-and-vo2-max

  9. http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/02/25/athlete.diet/

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  7. http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/detail/view/name/barbell-deadlift

  8. http://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/workout-tips/how-power-clean?page=2

  9. http://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/leg-exercises/videos/wide-stance-barbell-squat

  10. http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/exercises/5-ways-to-intensify-your-sit-up-routine.html

  11. http://www.popworkouts.com/leg-lifts-exercise/

  12. http://runnersconnect.net/running-training-articles/sprint-training-program-for-novice-runners/

  13. http://runnersconnect.net/running-training-articles/sprint-training-program-for-novice-runners/

  14. http://www.athleticsweekly.com/performance/sprinting-warm-cool-1538/

  15. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2303905/Stretching-exercising-actually-CAUSE-injury--make-slower.html

  16. http://ehs.virginia.edu/ehs/ehs.ergo/ergo.ds.html

  17. http://www.athleticsweekly.com/performance/sprinting-warm-cool-1538/

  18. http://www.athleticsweekly.com/performance/sprinting-warm-cool-1538/

  19. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~uczcw11/drills/warmups.htm

  20. New York Times on interval training

  21. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22592172

  22. http://speedendurance.com/2008/12/29/track-and-field-starting-blocks-evolution/

  23. http://www.active.com/running/articles/27-ways-to-run-better-every-day

  24. Videos provided by Jaret Campisi