Do any olympic runners have tips on how I can run a sprint above my 15 m.p.h?
I need tips on form
Answers:
What are some major injuries in sports?
I'm not an Olympic runner but know my sprinting pretty well.Here is some basic technique:
Keep your arms moving forward and back. They shouldn't cross yoru chest. If you pumped your arm all the way forward (but don't), your right hand should end up next to the right side of your head, for instance.
Try to maintain the arms at a 90 degree angle at top speed. Don't let your arms straighten out at the back.
Keep the leg tucked as long as you can. When you "paw" the ground pulling your leg back, it should be pretty straight of course. But when your foot kicks your butt, keep the knee bent. Don't kick the foot forward when you're bringing your knee up. When your knee is up and your thigh parallel to the ground, start setting the foot down. The knee will unbend when your leg is on its way back again. Basically, yur feet shouldn't kick forward and back; they should feel like they're running in circles like a bicycle. You can pretend you're running in knee-deep water, you have to step over the water instead of kick through it. When your leg is tucked in, you can move your knee faster.
Run on the balls of your feet (the joint behind the toes). It'll sort of feel like you're running on your toes, even though you're not. Your heel shouldn't touch the ground.
At top speed, it should feel like you're running "above" the ground- feet should barely be tapping it, no heavy foot stomping or anything.
Lastly, the key to running fast is to RELAX. That doesn't mean jog, but that means don't "try". Even though you are using muscle power, it should feel like you're not- just that you're moving very quickly and smoothly. To get the idea, just try trilling your fingers- tap index finger, middle finger of the same hand, alternating as fast as you can. If you relax, you can do it quicker and more easily than if you tenseup.
That's technique for ya. Hope it helps and good luck. It also helps to get stronger and more powerful. Most male world-class sprinters can squat at least 400 pounds.
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