Jul
4
The Sprint Workout
Filed Under Alternative Workouts, Work Out
So there I was, running like a mad man down my street. I was dodging driveways, jumping over curbs and occasionally startling an elderly woman enjoying a peaceful stroll. My legs were aching, my heart was pounding and I could barely breath. Was I running away from something? Was I chasing someone? Nope, I was workingout!
The Sprint Workout
In my ongoing quest to try all sorts of new and interesting workouts, I came across something called the Sprint Workout. Because I love trying out new things and because this workout seemed interesting, I thought I would give it a try. Let me tell you, 5 minutes into it, I was already reconsidering my decision.
What Is It?
The sprint is sort of like interval training only the intervals are at much higher intensity and the rest periods are almost at full rest. For example, my normal workout is a steady run at 6.5 mph for 40 minutes. When I do intervals I change this to 2 minutes at 7mph followed by 3 minutes at 5.5 mph and so on for 40 minutes. The sprint workout goes even further. You run all out as hard as you can for as long as you can and then you rest until you can breath, then you repeat the whole thing over again. In practice, that means 30 to 45 seconds at your fastest speed followed by 2 to 3 minutes at a walk and then repeating that 10 or 15 times.
By the way, you don’t have to do this with just running. For example, you can do pushups as fast as you can for as long as you can and then stretch for a few minutes while you regain your breath. The action is different but the idea is the same.
Warning!
Don’t try this workout if you’re new to exercise or if you have some kind of heart condition or any other medical condition for that matter. You’re quite literally going all out here and for some people, going all out is dangerous. So please consult with a doctor before doing this if you have any concerns.
Also, if you’re going to be sprinting, you may wish to consider a softer surface than I used. Sand, grass or even a running track are all better than the sidewalk I was running on.
Are There Benefits?
This workout really pushes your limits. After doing repeated sprints for 30 minutes I felt like I was about to die. However, after resting a bit, I jogged the rest of the way home and it felt easy. It was like I had challenged my body to give all that it could and now that I was just asking for a little bit, my body had no problem with it. Also, for a short workout, this one takes a lot of energy. You end up with a very high heart rate in a short period of time. I’m not sure about the science, but it sure felt like i got an hour’s worth of working out in 30 minutes.
Are There Downsides?
Yes, the major one being the injury risk I mention above. Also, people look at you a bit funny when you’re sprinting. I guess they’re worried about what’s chasing you and wondering if they should run too.
Will I Do It Again?
Probably, but I doubt this will become a regular part of my workout routine. It was fun, but too uncontrolled for my tastes. However, if you’re interested in a different kind of workout, by all means, give it a shot. Just be safe about it.
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A new day, a new kind of workout. Even though I didn’t like this one as much, it was still nice to try something new.
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3 Responses to “The Sprint Workout”
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Yeah the sprint work out definitely has its place but one that I dred as it really pushes you to your max. But it is fantastic for your fitness and really lets you work out your boundaries
This works a treat. Works you really hard. I agree when you say that you should work your way to this. It really elevates your heart rate.
Sprint Workouts, generally, are considered one of the best ways to achieve optimal fitness with the least amount of time involved. The benefits of a sprint workout as opposed to a steady run/jog are this: Sprinting builds muscle in such a way that is not found in longer distance, slower running. This increase in muscle is healthy in and of itself, but also increases your ‘basal metabolic rate’.( B.M.R. - The amount of calories you burn each day to simply function) You will burn calories at an increased rate to help repair and build your muscles, which usually lasts up to 48 hours. Also, each extra pound of muscle you build burns an additional 50 calories per day. Long Distance jogging, on the other hand, burns calories mostly during the actual activity, and produces only a very slight increase in ones B.M.R.
For overall fitness, sprinting is the way to go. (So long as it fits your personal preferences and whatnot)