Sprinting

Sprinting is one of those healthy activities most often overlooked. Many see it as being purely in the realm of professional athletes, or confined to the days of sportsdays at school. However, sprinting is in fact a great way to get in shape quickly and is becoming increasingly popular with a wide variety of fitness enthusiasts.

Metabolism Boosting Exercise!

The short, sharp bursts involved in sprinting can send your metabolism into overdrive, helping burn calories and fat. As opposed to longer, slower runs, it doesn't just help boost your metabolism during the actual exercise and a brief period afterwards. The benefits of sprinting, much like weight training, continue for hours after running - helping you continue to fight fat even whilst you sleep!

Continuing the weight training analogy, sprinting is something that you should slowly build up. You wouldn't immediately try and bench press 100kg's, so unless you're already super-fit, trying a 400 metre sprint from the outset would be equally crazy. Instead, when starting out, perhaps try a few 100 metre sprints; get your speed and fitness levels up, then progress onto longer, more demanding runs.

Finding the Best Place to Sprint

Obviously you can run pretty much anywhere; but due to the dynamic of sprinting it's advisable to find an area away from possible interference - people, animals, inanimate objects and traffic - where there is a flat straight area of relatively solid ground. Of course a running track would ordinarily provide the most fitting setting for a sprint, but as this isn't accessible to everyone, you may well have to hunt down an area that fits the characteristics of a perfect - if improvised - track.

Incorporating Sprinting with a Jogging Routine

Sprints can also be done in conjunction with a regular jogging routine. By breaking up a run with a few intermittent, pre-determined sprints, you can really maximise your workout. This full-on cardio workout is a highly effective way of getting the blood pumping and shedding pounds along the way. You get the fitness benefits of long-distance endurance running coupled with the calorie-busting advantages of the burst of power provided during a sprint.

As with jogging, sprinting doesn't really have a set uniform. Running shoes are a must though if you really want to get up a head of steam without doing yourself a mischief. Likewise, lightweight, uninhibiting clothing helps ensure that you glide along without getting weighed down and overheating.

Ensuring Safety Before & After Running

As with all sports and physical activities, there are some potential downsides to sprinting. The most notable of these is the damage that can be done to joints, more particularly the knees and ankles. Due to the high impact nature of running and the jarring effect it can have on the legs and back, these are can be susceptible to damage, both in the short-term and over longer periods.

Muscle strains and tears are also a potential issue; these can be caused by the quick changes of pace and general excursions that occur during sprinting. A good way to counteract these potential issues is by doing a thorough warm up and warm down; this will help loosen up muscles and ligaments allowing you to run and recover successfully.