Running - Sprints
Sprinting is the art of running fast. The main objective of Sprinting is to run as fast as possible for the entire distance. It is the short running races in athletics. Sprints are often some of the more fascinating events in the Olympics. Sprinting has four phases namely: start, acceleration, maintaining momentum and finish.
The common distances of sprints are 60 m, 100 m, 200 m and 400 m. The 60 m, which is normally run indoors, last between 6 and 7 seconds. This distance is also a popular training and testing tool used in other sports. On the other hand, the 100 m is the best-known sprint distance. Often, the world-record holder in this race is considered "the world's fastest man/woman". The 200 m, just like the 60 m, is run indoors in one lap of the track. The runners are spread out from their starting position so that all of them will run the same distance and ends on the home straight. Lastly, the 400 m is one lap around the track on the inside lane. They are also spread out the same way like the 200 m. Relays are commonly held at this event. The 400 m is the longest sprinting event. This result in the building up of lactic acid, which is caused by insufficient amount of oxygen needed to reach the muscles. Athletes then feel numb from their legs to their entire body. Athletes often prevent this by practicing "lactic acid" simulations. A simulation might consist of a 600 m run, slightly slower than race pace.
Aside from that, there are also uncommon distances that sprints cover. It is the 150 m, 300 m and 500 m. These distances are mostly informal ones. The 150 m is sometimes used as an exhibition distance. A runner’s stamina whose distance goes up to 100 m or 100 m in speed can do this distance. The 300 m, which is usually run by high school athletes, can be used to aid a 200 m or a 400 m runner’s speed. Lastly, the 500 m is the borderline between sprints and middle distance.
Like in all Running Events, you have to establish basic running mechanism resulting to an effective running. Understand these basic mechanisms before you try sprints.
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Basics & Backgrounds
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