As we get older, we tend to sprint less, and if we bring sprinting back into our daily lives after the age of thirty, we will see some drastic changes.
As a retired collegiate track athlete I might have a bias, but sprinting is one of the best workouts to exist!
Here are 5 benefits of sprinting:
- Muscle Growth!
- Fat Burner!
- Prevent Chronic Diseases!
- Confidence
- Focus
Muscle Growth
Sprinting is a complete body workout. In order to sprint properly, you would need to engage the following muscle groups:
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- Arm and shoulder muscles
- Core
- Legs
- Hamstrings and glutes
Why do you think sprinters in track and field have some of the best physiques? Their sport requires a balanced strength from their entire body! When sprinting you are not just training your fast twitch muscles, but you are strengthening your entire body!
Decreasing Fat
Sprinting is a high level workout which burns fat. You could end up having a shorter sprint workout because of the intensity versus going for a run or walk because of the amount of calories you burn to generate the power.
Sprinting is a form of HIIT. HIIT is High intensity interval training. The intensity of sprinting (done in intervals) is what gives many of the same benefits as a HIIT workout, but maybe easier for some and even more enjoyable.
Imagine playing tag, or sprinting after your dog multiple times or after a ball like in sports. SIT or sprint interval training is amazing.
Preventing Chronic Disease
The best way to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart problems, etc, is to partake in sprinting. Of course, fitness, in general, will help with this. But if you enjoy sprinting or want to try it, sprinting also helps prevent chronic disease.
“In recent years, studies have shown that novel SIT protocols with both fewer and shorter sprints are efficacious at improving important risk factors of noncommunicable diseases in sedentary individuals, and provide health benefits that are no worse than those associated with classic SIT”(J. Vollaard and Metcalfe).
Preventing chronic disease is one of the most significant benefits of the 5 benefits of sprinting list.
Confidence
As our strength and muscle growth increase, we become physically more stable and secure. This directly impacts our trust in our physical abilities.
Just think, after a great workout, even if you are sore, you tend to walk away with better posture and your head held high.
Of course, your skeletal muscles are assisting with this, getting stronger, and your posture is changing, but sprinting has a positive impact on your confidence in your abilities and also your confidence in yourself.
Confidence is contagious and eventually will seep into everything you do, even if it starts with workouts the first time.
Focus
When sprinting, your body releases endorphins to your brain, causing your mind and body to feel at ease. There is less stress, less overthinking, and therefore, more opportunity to focus on one task at hand.
Stress sometimes takes us all but can be significantly reduced with exercise, especially sprinting.
If you are under thirty, make sure you incorporate sprinting into your workouts. Most individuals on a sports team are likely already doing this daily.
If you are thirty and above, I highly encourage you to incorporate sprinting into your workouts. Also, if you haven’t sprinted in a long time, you should ease into it and make sure you have a proper warm-up.
J. Vollaard, N. B., & Metcalfe, R. S. (2017). Research into the Health Benefits of Sprint Interval Training Should Focus on Protocols with Fewer and Shorter Sprints. Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.z.), 47(12), 2443-2451. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0727-x
