Increase Your Speed with these 7 Tips
These tips can help you increase your speed as a runner
Whether you’re a first-time runner or not, you will eventually want to increase your speed. This is the best way to set new PRs! You’ll have to put in the work though. It takes hard work and dedication to increase your speed. Below are 7 different ways that you can increase your speed and chase those PRs. The more of these tips you integrate, the better. Pro tip: make sure you effectively warm-up before any run or workout.
Interval training
This means exercising with periods of high and low intensity to run faster. Running an interval involves running faster than your everyday pace. The intervals revamp the efficiency of the oxygen delivered to your body. This will help increase your speed and efficiency. Learn more about how interval runs and these 6 other types of runs can help increase your speed.
Interval workout example
- Jog for three minutes
- Sprint for one minute
- Repeat this cycle four more times, resting in between each repeat
Use the treadmill
If you want to run faster, you need to practice. Buy a treadmill and use it as a source for you to keep yourself motivated during bad weather days. Especially if they keep you from going outside for your daily run. The treadmill assists with leg turnover, making it easier to run faster. Push the pace as much or as little as you want. Increase your speed over time to see improvements.
Run hill repeats
This can be challenging, but it’s worth it. Running hills is a form of resistance and running mechanic training. You’ll increase your muscle strength, especially your glutes and calves. The muscles needed to sprint across the finish line! Pro tip: get the right running shoes for you with our helpful insight.
Add strength training
How you increase your speed is not just about running. You need to keep yourself active and functioning. Strength training involves physical exercises that improve strength and endurance. It is associated with the use of weights but can take a variety of different forms, like booty bands. Start with small weights and increase your goal gradually. If you manage to beat your record, you are doing great.
Try yoga
Yoga has extensive benefits beyond our imagination. Add yoga to your daily or weekly training plan and you won’t be disappointed. A study showed that twice-weekly yoga sessions increase flexibility in your joints and improve the balance of your body. The added stretching could also prevent injuries like shin splints.
Be steady and focused
Things take time, so don’t get off the track. You won’t achieve your big goal overnight. Set up smaller, weekly goals along the way. Take it easy on yourself. Slow and steady may win the race, but fast and steady builds speed! Take challenges and try running faster than the day before.
Eat right
Let’s turn to optimal fueling. We can talk about making sure you have enough to eat before you run and eating enough to recover properly. Just don’t let your sugar cravings overtake your goals! Eating healthy and hydrating properly will help you work harder.
These are some of the most tried and valued running techniques. You can have your unique ways to help you increase your speed. Do you have any unique ways that have helped you increase your speed or have you tested any of the above out? We would love to hear.
