In a few days, the world will witness some of the best sculpted and shredded physiques battling for medals and bragging rights. I’m not talking about the Olympia bodybuilding stage, I’m talking about the Olympic Games scheduled for July 23 to August 8 in Tokyo, Japan.
One look at the world class sprinters and you will see how sculpted they are. Picture two of the most talked about sprinters right now — Sha’Carri Richardson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce — for example, they did not attain bodies like theirs by just waking up and rolling out of bed in the morning. Those shredded physiques speak to the incredible fat-burning effects of sprint training and workouts.
I have been sprinting a lot lately and I can tell you that it is one of the most explosive exercises you can do. It’s a complete, total-body workout that targets the glutes, hips, hamstrings, quads, calves and abs. It also builds long, lean muscle. It is a fact, many professional athletes like cricketers, footballers, and hockey and basketball players incorporate sprints into their training regimes for the reasons mentioned above.
Sprinting also promotes fat loss and increases your metabolic rate for several days after the workout, a phenomenon known as the excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) effect. EPOC — also known as “afterburn” — allows you to continue burning calories long after your workout is over.
Sprinting is arguably the best way to tone your legs and glutes without incorporating any resistance training. Don’t get me wrong, squats and lunges are all great ways to train your legs, but sprinting is an excellent alternative.
We all get bored sometimes, going to the gym every day and lifting the same weights over and over. Well sprinting is a great way to change things up and get outside. All you need is a track or a flat, grassy surface.
I currently sprint on the grass at the side of the road inside the National Park. Like me, you don’t have to run sprints at top speed to obtain a quality workout. In fact, I would suggest doing sprint workouts at 50-75-percent speed to avoid injury. If you are now starting, your body isn’t conditioned to run full speed, and you don’t want to pull a hamstring or groin muscle or any muscle for that matter.
If you want to torch body fat and achieve a toned and aesthetic physique, try incorporating some sprints into your workout regimen.
