Difference Between Training And Sprinting

My trainer always says “look in the mirror...that's your competition,” I think that's the biggest take away you will learn in the art of running. It's not the times, or the medals you earn that matters. It's the fact that you know you’re beating your previous PR’s and getting better. In the sport of track and field there are two different categories of runners, sprinters and distance runners. Sprinters are usually classified as anyone who runs a 100, 200, and or a 400, while distance runners are 800 meters and up. While both sprinting and distance running have the same sport revolving around them, they are different in terms of muscle usage, injuries, and training.
While both sprinting and distance running requires the same muscles, speed is related to muscle mass. Both types of runners use their hamstrings, quads, calves, core, hip flexors, …show more content…
According to John Davis, “A distance runner’s typical week of training involves workouts at a variety of paces, ranging from slow, easy runs for recovery and basic aerobic endurance to threshold efforts and race-pace intervals to build fitness for a specific race distance.” Distance runners usually put in the mileage, whether that's a slow jog for a longer distance or a faster pace track repeat workout. The sprinters spend almost an equal time in the weight room as they do on the track. According to Juderson Jean-Baptiste, “Sprinters primarily focus on strength training or anaerobic exercise, which can fuel quick bursts of speed and strength. Short, intense interval training are common training activities of sprinters. The training program of long-distance runners mostly consists of relatively light and prolonged exercises to improve endurance.” This makes sense because sprinters need the muscles to put force into the ground while distance athletes need the endurance to back them up for their longer