Here at NordicTrackCoupons.com we know many of our readers are runners, and with that being said, what’s the one thing most of you runners are aiming for when it comes to improving your runs? Lowering your running times and achieving faster speed results. But how are you going to do that is the question we really need to be addressing! According to an article from LiveStrong.com Plyometric Exercises for Running Speed, “If you want to become a faster runner, plyometric exercises can put some speed in your step.”
First let’s go over what plyometric exercises are exactly so we’re all up to “speed” here (pun intended). According to Wikipedia the definition of plyometrics are exercises that use “explosive, fast-acting movements to develop muscular power and to improve overall speed…allows muscles to exert maximum force in the shortest amount of time possible.”
Plyometric exercises include exercises that usually involve jumping of some sort. Some examples include: jumping in the air, landing and then immediately pushing back out into another jump; jumping off a box onto the floor and onto another higher box; barrier lateral jumps; and the ever most popular burpee.
So now that we know roughly what plyometric exercises are, how are they going to help improve our running speed?
According to an article Plyometric Jump to Run Faster, plyometrics explosive moves help to “train your muscles for rapid contractions which are going to help allow you to generate more force in your movements, the benefits of these being increased power.”
When you are jumping you are stretching out your muscles before contracting them. Most of the energy is lost as heat when you stretch, yet some can be stored as elastic components of the muscle. “Yet your muscle can only use this energy if you follow your stretch immediately with a contraction, i.e. the jumping motion.” So when you do contract, you are allowing for a great force.
Doing plyometric exercises helps build your muscle force; this allows you to have more power when contracting your muscles, especially when running. So by adding plyometric drills to your workouts you are helping increase not only your speed of movement, but your power, coordination and agility of your movements as well.
Now that we’ve raved all about how great plyometric exercises are for your running speed, here is a great 30 Minute Treadmill + Plyometric Workout from blogger SweetToothSweetLife.com. Give this workout a try and combine both plyometric exercises into your run to help improve your speed.
Try out these 3 Speed Training Workouts for the Treadmill to help increase your speed as well!
Have you ever tried plyometric exercises?
What are some of your favorite plyometric moves?
