Three Tips On How To Run Faster

Yuri Elkaim, BPHE, CK, RHN
myTreadmillTrainer.com

If you’re like me, you love watching a great foot race.  Every time the Olympics roll around, I always make sure I catch the sprint competitions.  The 100 meter dash is my favorite because it is tense and full of drama – perfect qualities for a sport, if I say so myself.

It is part of the human identity to try and push the boundaries of the human body as far as they can go.  (Plus, saying you can run fast is really, really cool.) So, if you want to know how to run faster and put on some impressive speed, then here are three useful tips.

How To Run Faster

Let’s first talk about how the human body pumps out speed.  How fast you can run, sad to say, is limited significantly by your body.  You can blame your parents for that.  People are born with either fast-twitch muscle fibers (made for speed), slow-twitch muscle fibers (made for endurance), or a mixture of the two. If you are a slow-twitch person, chances are you will never be an elite sprinter.

But that’s okay.  These tips will increase your speed no matter what type you are.

Tip #1: Geronimo!

One way to increase your speed is to use a parachute.  Not for jumping out of planes, though.  You can buy a running parachute that has a harness designed to slow you down while you run.  This creates resistance, which builds up your explosiveness.  That is the key to running faster – moving your feet as fast as you can.

Tip #2: Drills, Drills, Drills

If you have played sports, then you know all about drills. (Thankfully, not the dental type…). Here is one drill you can use.  It’s called a fartlek run.  These are similar to fartlek runs you do over a long distance, except on a smaller scale.  Head to a track and begin by running at about 75% of your top speed around the curve of the track.  Then, for the 100 meter straightaway, kick it up as fast as you can.  When you finish, slow it back down to 75%.  Repeat until you can’t run any more laps.

Tip #3: Shape Up That Form!

When you sprint, a lot of your speed depends on your form.  Running long distance means your body should be relaxed and floppy.  Running for speed means a different form altogether.

When you sprint, you want to be relaxed, but firm.  Your strides should be long, about 6-8 feet.  You should also keep your toes pointed up, and land on the balls of your feet.  Also, add a strong kick to your stride – it’ll help propel you down the track. Stand tall and keep your shoulders and arms relaxed, and make sure that when you pump your arms, they go straight back – not across your chest.

One way to build great form is to run up stadium steps or bleachers.  Sprinting uphill will also show you good form.

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