Sprinting
By Aliya Jawad
Why do you have to stretch before you run?
Stretching helps prepare your body for the exercise its about to get. Warming up helps raise the temperature of your body & your muscles so they will be ready to run. Warming up will also increase your heart rate which also gets more blood & oxygen flowing to your muscles. When you stretch make sure you're doing it properly. Stretching should never hurt so be sure to stop if you start to feel any sort of pain. Make sure you stretch both sides of your body equally.
Why is it important to stay hydrated?
Around 60 percent of your body is water & it plays an important role in every part of your body. You can lose a lot of fluid when you exercise, up to a litre an hour, mainly through sweating & breathing. If you don't refill your body with water you can get dehydrated. Being dehydrated can affect both your normal health & how well you exercise. You'll feel tired more quickly & won't be able to control your temperature as well as usual. Water is good for your muscles, so drinking before, during and after exercise will pump up your energy levels. The water may also help to stop injuries from occurring.
Why do you need to train?
Training is extremely important & should form a part of all elite athletes daily routines. Training allows the body to slowly build up strength & last longer, improve skill levels & build confidence. Training also allows the athlete to gain more knowledge of their sport as well as learning about the importance of having a healthy mind & body. Regular exercise is good for your muscles, it improves your strength & good circulation of your blood flow. Regular training also speeds up recovery time following physical exercise. This enables the body to deal with the demands of training more efficiently & gives less chance to be injured or sick.
Why do professionals use starting blocks?
Sprinters use starting blocks to achieve a quick start in competitive events. Achieving a powerful push off is a major benefit of using starting blocks. As you're already on your feet, you can easily push forward from a still position as well as hitting the ground with greater speed. The blocks allow you to shift your weight to your shoulders & hands rather than your lower body and feet. When the starting gun goes off your legs don't have to push up & lift your entire body weight to move forward. The benefit of getting a quick start can improve performance time in the race.