The difference between relaxed sprinting and tight sprinting is huge for me. When I’m running tight everything just feels sluggish and slow and the stop watch reflects that. However, on occasions everything just seems to work in sync and it feels like I’m flying. My feet feel like they’ve barely touched the ground before they’re launched into the next stride. Every antagonist feels like it has been shut down. The surrounding scenary turns into a blur.
I’ve noticed one consistancy in each situation when I’ve been able to achieve this relaxed powerful stride in my sprints. Once I was warming up for a speed session at the local park and two chicks were also doing some speed work (well, more like intensive tempo but thats what the rest of the country think speed work is).
There were a few other speed sessions like this. The latest one, last Tuesday I was doing rolling 30m reps and every single one of these reps were extremely fast - the old caretaker guy from my school was watching. (I wasn’t going to mention this, for the fear of sounding gay, but if I wanted people to think I’m a closet homosexual I would just mention something about wanting Brad Pitt’s body).
I never really took notice of this before, I used to just think that my CNS was just at it’s optimal that day and conditions were perfect. I only began to take notice when my rugby season started recently and I realised how fast I was sprinting during these games when I was chasing loose kicks (in this country, highschool rugby games have many spectators watching).
It seems that when I try to run fast (trying to get to one place as fast as possible) I tend to tighten up. On the contrary, when I try to LOOK like I’m running fast, I actually go much faster!
Originally posted by dcw23
I was thinking about this. Major difference is that with the relay, you are not just thinking about getting from A to B as quickly as possibly, you are thinking about getting the baton and then also thinking about the exchange.
i also agree with this because of experience. I ran the lead off leg of the 4x1 almost one half second faster than my 100 pb.
I was thinking about this. Major difference is that with the relay, you are not just thinking about getting from A to B as quickly as possibly, you are thinking about getting the baton and then also thinking about the exchange.
Similarly, with the long jump, you aren’t thinking about getting to the end of the runway as fast as possible, you need to think about the jump.
I think both these instances help relaxation.
However, there is something that I am convinced is much more important than the mental side which I can post on later as it is quite involved.
I run alot at my local beach on the hard sand and people are always walking past, so I tend to put on some shows of speed and usually I go a little faster than usual, well I feel great.
There are some days when I feel perfect, like I could set amazing pb’s and there are other days when I don’t so I can’t say whether or not I do go much faster in front of people.
Like, at carnivals and stuff, in the 100m sprint, I get really nervous and I feel it hinders my performance, but during the relay and running the last leg as soon as I get that baton, I simply fly, I feel big adrenaline rush, etc. I’ve always wanted to have that same feeling before the individual sprints, but I never get the feeling.
Anyway, what makes you feel fast might be an individual thing
i also agree with this because of experience. I ran the lead off leg of the 4x1 almost one half second faster than my 100 pb.
more improtantly i was more relaxed. [originally posted by TJ2K/quote]
Indeed you are concentrating on getting the baton from one end to the other, but running half a second quicker than your 100m pb isn’t really reliable as you do have a rolling sart in the relay whereas on the individual 1 you don’t.
