• Question: how do you run fast

    Asked by mikeyiscool to Sian, Sally, SallyB, Rebecca, Pete on 17 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Sally Fenton

      Sally Fenton answered on 16 Jun 2010:

      Some people who are able to run fast are able to do so because of their genetic make up. Our muscles are made up of different types of fibres called fast twitch fibres and slow twitch fibres…people have different amounts of both. Those people who have fast twich fibres are naturally able to run faster!

      However…there are things that we can do regardless of the types of fibres are muscles are made up to help us run faster. Some sport scientists look at this and they examine the mechanics of movement. By doing this they can tell people what they are doing..how they are running… and how to change their running technique to make them run faster!

    • Photo: Rebecca Randell

      Rebecca Randell answered on 16 Jun 2010:

      Some people are born fast runners- they get running genes from their parents and they don’t have to train to be good.

      However, if you aren’t a naturally fast runner you need to train regularly and find yourself a good coach. Eating a healthy diet and getting lots of sleep will also give you more energy and will help with your running

    • Photo: Sian Lawson

      Sian Lawson answered on 17 Jun 2010:

      Mechanically: Try to keep all your movements as straight as possible in the forward-backward direction with as little side-to-side movement as you can. Speed is a product of stride length and stride frequency, so you either need longer strides or more of them. Lengthening the stride, particularly spending longer in the air, tends to be the easiest approach if you only have two legs.

    • Photo: Peter Styring

      Peter Styring answered on 17 Jun 2010:

      It depends on your anatomy and physiology and then on how you train and live. Fast runners over short distances tend to be muscular and have muscles that react very quickly (fast twitch). If you see a sprinter they tend to have very high muscle definition, usually an 8-pack as well! Fast long-distance runners tend to be small and thin with less well defined muscles. It’s unusual for sprinters to be able to run long distances fast. I say an interview where Usain Bolt described a 300 m event he ran in as a ‘long distance race!’. You need the correct diet with lots of protein and carbohydrate. You also need to train hard and have a coach who knows how to get the best out of you!

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