Sprinting is an activity in any sport that involves running. To be more precise, sprinting is a form of running done within a short time over a short distance. It is a quick way of reaching a goal using high amounts of energy that can sustain you for about 35 seconds on average. Sprinting causes a depletion in phosphocreatine stores in your body muscles and causes excessive metabolic acidosis attributed to anaerobic glycolysis. There is a difference between sprinting and running, as sprinting is the fastest running form in any track.
When writing a college essay sprinting paper, you need to know the phases of sprinting that exist to ensure that you do not confuse running and sprinting. The reader of your research paper on sprinting should be capable of identifying the difference between sprinting and running.
To write your paper well, ensure you cover the following phases of sprinting in your paper:
- Drive
The drive is the beginning phase for all sprinters. It is the bursting point of a sprinter from an idol still position. When beginning a sprint race, a sprinter must be in a crouched position when at the starting blocks while leaning forward ahead. Efficiently using the energy within your body as a sprinter requires leaning your whole body and not bending your hips section. The foot should hit the track that exists below you, or that is quite behind your hips.
- Maximum velocity
The maximum velocity sets in after the drive phase. When sprinting and you are at the second phase of maximum velocity, you need to be fully erect in your body posture. Your hips should not be lowered. You gain and attain maximum velocity in the phase that should last you 10 meters to 30 meters in a 100 meters race or a maximum of 200 meters in a 400 meters sprint race.
- Maintenance
The final phase of sprinting is the maintenance phase. No sprinter is capable of maintaining top speed from the start to the end of a sprint race. At such a final phase, any sprinter begins to slow down. The phase aims to minimize deceleration. At such stage, you need to be careful not to increase your stride length as it inadvertently causes further slowing down.
For the best performance in sprinting, a runner needs to master the three phases
Any runner should understand the time to gain speed and how to gain speed. Maintenance of speed and the gradual process of slowing down should be understood. Acceleration needs to be quick, and the maximum velocity needs to be maintained before the eventual slowing down. With the phases, it is important to note factors affecting a sprinter’s performance.
- Genetics
The playing speed potential of any human being is affected by genetics-based on research and experience. Exceptional athletes have a ‘sports gene,” and when coupled with effective training, a runner is made exceptional. Playing speed and quickness can be trained, but other athletes find it easier than others.
- Type of muscle fiber
There are three types of muscle fibers, namely Type I, Type IIa, and Type IIb. The fast-twitch Type IIa of muscle fibers is capable of influencing aerobic and anaerobic activity. They have average twitch time, fatigability, force development, and aerobic and anaerobic power. The fast-twitch Type IIb muscle fibers have a short twitch time despite being capable of rapidly developing force. Their low endurance and aerobic power make them not contribute much to athlete’s performance.
- Body composition
Body composition is the bone, muscle, and fat proportion in the body of an individual. A body composition test needs to be conducted to ensure a well-rounded training program for athletes. It is easy to determine if the body fats percentage is acceptable for running with tests. Excess fats translate to excess pounds that can make movement inefficient and decrease the speed of sprinting.
Sprinting speed can be increased through training in conventional sprint running, resistance, ballistic, or resisted sprinting. Overall, any method of training should aim at improving the speed of running of any sprinter.
