Cardio Running.

[cwc73]

Hello everyone. I have a simple question--I think.
I am in ROTC, so I do a great deal of running M,W,and F in the mornings. I get to the weight room M,W,and F evening.
I want to make my 1.5 mile run faster. I have heard that if you run shorter distances at much faster than normal paces, you will get used to the faster pace and be able to keep the pace eventually.

I want to know If it would be a good idea to run on a treadmill at the end of my work out at a much faster pace(almost a sprint). I want to start out running a quarter of a mile. I want to get my quater down to a minute. If i reach this I will raise the distance to .3 and so on.

Will this sprinting build muscle and speed up my 1.5 mile run time?
Thanks!!!!
cwc

 

[Mike_Rojas]

I don't think so. I was in the Marines and all I did to improve my 3 mile run was to run 3-5 miles 3-4 days a week.

 

[Synpax]

post on cardio board

 

[MsBeverlyHills]

Will this sprinting build muscle and speed up my 1.5 mile run time?
Thanks!!!!
cwc

simple answer- no.

 

[TRUEsoldier]

AMEN running=breaking down muscles,

deffinatly not gaining muscle size

But in your case I understand where you are coming from, I am in the army, and am forced to run for the pt test. But keep in mind I NEVER RUN, so with that said you understand that I dont care what my run time is as long as I pass. I want to GAIN muscle size and strength, not lose the gains I am working so hard for.

Thest best thing you can do IMO to maintain your muscle size, and work on your time is to do HIIT! The great sprinters of the world are deffinatly pretty damn big, but they train for short distance!! so keep that in mind!

Peace

 

[JoBu]

You need to do what is called "speed work" on a track. Replace one of your normal run workouts with speed work each week and I guarantee your improve your 1.5 mile time. I'd suggest starting with 8X400m with a 2-3min rest period (either walk or jog). As for pace, you should be shooting for something around 15 seconds faster then your all-out mile pace. So if you run a mile in 8min (2min for 400m) you'd want to be doing your 400's at 1:45. The first few should be fairly easy but the key is to consistently run the same pace for every repeat. If you aren't completely spent after your last 400 then knock another 5sec off next week. This will get your body used to the feeling of running fast and will carry over to your longer runs. Speed work is common for distance runners of all types. I was doing 6-8 1/2 mile repeats while training for a 1/2 marathon back in September.