The Art of Sprinting

Happy Marvelous In My Monday! Thanks Katie for hosting!

I want to talk about a marvelous love of mine: sprinting. Yes, sprinting (to me, at least) is an art.

I LOVE sprinting. (As if you couldn't tell when I underlined, bolded, italicized and capitalized the letters of the word 'love.') 

I've never been a long distance runner. It's not my cup of tea. Do not get me wrong, I think anyone who has the ability to complete 5ks, 10ks, half marathons, full marathons, ultramarathons, etc. have the willpower of an iron demon. I give each and every dedicated runner major props. But I haven't quite gotten myself able to do it yet. (*Note the word "yet.") I also hate how some sprinters say that long distance running is bad for your health and you "lose muscle mass" and whatnot. Let others decide what they like to do.

Anyways... I have the patience of a 3-year-old. Running for long periods of time just doesn't get me excited. I sincerely wish that some runners, like some of my favorite bloggers here and here, would send me some of their running motivation. But alas, I am all into the sprints.

I'm 'taller.' Sprinters tend to be tall. The longer the legs, the faster you can leap and dash across that track. That's not to say that shorter people cannot be good sprinters! I am not saying that at all. I personally feel like I am a good sprinter, and I am not trying to come off as conceited. I always come down on myself for not being good enough for this and that, like long distance running, but when I say that I am good at something, I feel like I really mean it and I am very proud of it.

I have toned my sprinting down a bit recently to pack on more muscle. I do believe that sprinting and plyometrics have an advantage in building muscle in the legs, but in moderation. If you do it four times a week, that advantage eventually evaporates.

I did sprints Thursday at my high school. When I do get to sprint, I feel super happy that I am reunited with my love. If I had to choose my fitness loves, they would hands down be lifting, sprints, and plyometrics. 

A combination of weights & moderate sprints and plyometrics got me this! :D

I focused; I mentally and physically prepared. I packed a larger than life water bottle (one liter!)  and switched beast mode ON. I zoned everything out of my mind and focused on the goal. Get to that end point and get there as fast as possible.

When I get to that end point, I feel amazing. I feel enthralled and on fire. I can't even sit here and write what I feel in a way that does it enough justice. Do you know that feeling I am talking about? Like a marthoner crossing the finish line, or a powerlifter setting a new PR. Words can't simply begin to explain how I feel. Are they just endorphins? Possibly. But I do think there's passion mixed in there somewhere.

I think sprinters like Usain Bolt are downright amazing. Who knew a human could be that fast? That comes with hard work. After I build a decent amount of muscle, which I understand might take quite a long time, I am going to get back on a regular sprinting schedule.

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Here are the tips I have learned from numerous amounts of research and personal experience:

1. Imagine you are holding a large pretzel in your hands when you are sprinting.
I learned this from Men's Health magazine. I never used to do this and I didn't think trying it would make much of a difference in my speed. However, it certainly did. The position of your hands are a major component of doing the fastest sprint. Try it!

2. Keep your arms bent at a 60-90 degree angle.
By doing this, you can go faster, which may not seem to make a lot of sense, but think about it: if your arms are extended, the air pushes against it, which slows you down. By keeping your arms in an "L" shape and pumping them, you will be sprinting like a cheetah.

3. Land on the tips of your feet, NOT your heels.
I used to sprint on my heels. Not only did it make me slower, but the next day my heels would feel like they had been beaten by a sledgehammer. By landing on the tips of your feet, you can sprint faster and not put so much pressure on your heels. Your heels should basically never touch the ground!

4. Lean your upper body forward.
For a long distance runner, it is important to run with your chest up. But in sprinting, you should lean forward as it provides more momentum so that you can sprint faster.

5. Get your breathing pattern set.
For me, breathing IN through the nose and OUT through the mouth works best. When I do otherwise, I get serious cramps that slow me down.

There are plenty of other tips that will help you with sprints. I liked these tips here. 

Practice, practice, practice. As I have stated countless of other times before, I am a big lover of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). But remember, HIIT takes a lot out of you, so don't do it everyday. Take rest, eat CARBS and see your body transform!

Have you seen the body of a sprinter?! Incredible. Inspiring. Motivating.

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I LOVE TO SPRINT.

Questions: Do you prefer sprinting or long distance running? Any particular reasons? Do you have any other tips for a good sprint? And for my long distance runners, how do you stay motivated to run so long?! I need help with this!

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