Sprinting - wow, I sucked...

[spatts]

You have found your weakness....just keep doing it and make it stronger. Sprinting isn't easy. There have been times I did straights for 8 laps and called it a day.

Out of curiosity, if you are sprinting hard, how are you holding a walkman/cd player?

 

[superwife]

So I tried sprinting last night. I have not done any cardio in a few weeks (well, to be honest...probably more than a few weeks) and thought I would get back started.

I got out to the track and did a few warmup laps and did my stretching. I had good music...I was all set.

I did my first sprint and it felt so good (I was just running the straight parts since I forgot my watch). I was so glad I talked myself into going...

My second sprint was less good but passable... the third I thought I was going to yak... and the fourth...well, at least I didn't yak.

I only did about 3 1/2 sprints, each for less than a minute... oh I feel so bad...

I was so disappointed with myself last night. I am almost afraid to go try again without spending some time on the elliptical machine...

Should I keep trying the sprints or build up a base again on the elliptical machine?

Thanks...

 

[spatts]

Clever.

 

[superwife]

Actually I tied the lanyard of the MP3 player to my underwear...

 

[PinkPanther]

Spatts,

How much sprinting do you recommend? I usually do cardio three days a week, and I am thinking of incorporating some sprints into the mix as I have been reading lots about them lately...

Thanks!

 

[dzulboy]

build it up on the stair climber i don't think elipticals do much for stamina just my opinion

 

[superwife]

Shoud I do the stair climber or just suck it up and try sprinting again?

Thanks

 

[JJFigure]

I'd keep hammering away at the sprinting. You'll be amazed at how quickly your body will adjust; you just need to keep working at it.

 

[FitFossil]

Work up to it gradually. It's some of the hardest best training you can do. On average, sprinters are the leanest and most muscular of all athletes.

Even though I've been doing them awhile now, I never train for more than 20 minutes at a time (not including warm up or cool down). If I'm not pleasantly wiped after that, it meant I didn't work hard enough during those 20 minutes. That doesn't mean you have to start out doing it for 20 minutes, but from wherever you start, try to push a little harder the next time. The key is to challenge your body but don't annihilate it. Mentally and physically, you want it to keep coming back for more For this same reason, I never do sprint sessions more than 2x/week.

In different workouts I'll vary from doing more sets of short fast sprints (like less than 30 seconds) or fewer sets of longer slower sprints (like a minute). I also vary the length of my recovery intervals. These are all variables you can play with as you build up.

 

[superwife]

Well, going to try again today...meant to go over the weekend but had way too much fun in the gym (and, oh my! My abs really hurt ) I will try to get 4 good sprints out before I crash and burn... with me luck!

 

[superwife]

I survived and rocked 4 intervals!!! Woo hoo!!! I think no music helped. I also dug the high school drum line practicing next door...

 

[JJFigure]

Good job! Sprinting to music would be hard; for me, it's something I need to be pretty focused for, so I just try to clear out my mind and only think about each sprint. Listening to music would make that difficult.

 

[PinkPanther]

WOW!! I just decided to start doing some HIIT after my weight w/o in the mornings. I started yesterday morning. My plan was to do about 15 minutes of HIIT on the stair stepper after my w/o. Well, after 5 minutes!!! I was toast. I could hardly breath and my legs felt like complete jello. I could barely even move. I guess I will have to work my way up to 15 minutes! he he he...I wish I would have started this sooner. It sure beats sitting on a cardio machine for 30-45 minutes...much better of a workout, too!