Welcome back to another Trying New Things! This month, we are speeding up with sprinting. Sprinting is running as fast as you can for a short amount of time. A few months ago, I joined a recreational softball league and wrote about my great experience with it in Trying New Things. Softball actually inspired me to write this article because I found it more difficult than I anticipated to run from home plate to first base. I was often sore after games because I am not used to exerting too much speed. When I do run, it’s mostly for completion of a distance more than it is for time.
What is it?
Sprinting is a sport that jumps up from a level of recreation all the way up to the Olympics. In track and field, there is a 100-, 200- and 400-meter race. Four hundred meters is one lap around a standard track, 200 is half of a lap and 100 is a quarter of a lap. The 400-meter long sprint is considered by some to be the most difficult track distance because of how long the run is at full speed.
When I first started this article, I thought it would be a much easier endeavor – it doesn’t sound super difficult to run for less than a minute. In reality, sprinting is a huge challenge and a great way to build muscle mass since it requires so much muscle use and exerts so much energy. It’s also a great way to improve endurance and prevent heart disease.
Beginner Friendly?
One huge benefit of sprinting, and what I mentioned in my previous articles on walking and running, is that it is extremely accessible. There’s no special equipment; it’s free and, as long as you can find a safe area, it can be done.
Sprinting does not come without its risks. It’s an easy way to pull an achilles tendon or strain a calf without proper stretching and training. Building up to a full sprint is likely a better course of action to avoid any sort of injury. Additionally, it may also not be wise to run on a track when first starting as it could lead to further injuries. Maybe try grass, a path or pavement and work up to the track.
Did I Feel Like I Was Working Out?
For my sprinting workout, I decided to sprint for 30 seconds, then walk for a few minutes. The first 30 seconds went alright, but after a few tries, I realized I had to bring down my sprinting time to 20 and then 10 seconds. I also dropped down from 100% effort to around 80% after the first few sprints.
I overwhelmingly felt like I was working out. I expected that this would be more challenging than anticipated after playing softball, but it still surprised me that I struggled to even run at 100% effort after the first sprint.
Sprinting is a fast way to build muscle and see some stark improvements in a short amount of time. It doesn’t come without its risks – without proper preparation, it is an easy way to find yourself injured. If you work up to faster sprints, it is a quicker way to build muscle and endurance than jogging. For a faster workout, sprinting is excellent. In just 10 or 20 minutes of sprinting and resting in between, it’s almost guaranteed to feel sore the next day.
If this piques your interest, I highly recommend The Fastest Way to Boost Your Fitness, a New York Times article by Michael Venutolo-Mantovani, a journalist out of Chapel Hill. He does exceptional research into sprinting, and it may help you decide if it is right for you!
