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A whole thesis could be written on the benefits of hill sprints, feel free to research them on PubMed or corner a doctor at a cocktail party; for now, here is a cursory overview, not an exhaustive list, of the benefit of hill sprints.
Safety: Because you are running up a hill, you never reach maximum limb speed. This serves as a built-in safety mechanism for your hamstrings! Remember, strength-to-bodyweight ratio is a key component in predicting sprint speed (many of you have a great one so be careful and use a hill).
Strength:Hill sprints, like weight training, make you stronger! Hill sprints bridge the gap between strength training and speed training; they are in the middle of the force-velocity continuum.
Body Angle:The angle of your body sprinting up a hill is very similar to the acceleration phase of sprinting, offering direct strength transference. Furthermore, hill sprints require your knees to pump high, increase your stride rate and teach aggressive shoulder action (essential for maximum acceleration). Build Mental Toughness: All-out sprints repeatedly up a hill require testicular fortitude. You get in what you put in. Half speed gets LESS than half results. Whether you’re chasing down a bully that stole your kid’s bike or just want to kick ass in the corporate picnic flag football game, you will be confident because you have sprinted hills. Conditioning/Body Composition If you can sprint up hills, you will have no problem doing the same on flat ground. Hill sprints greatly increase metabolic demand compared to traditional sprints; this greater requirement in output exponentially increases conditioning levels . Hill sprints have an amazing effect on body composition because they are essentially a hybrid between sprints and weightlifting. Sprinters have some of the best physiques in the world. Endorphin Rush/Psychological boost After performing hill sprints, I feel invincible and empowered.
Functionality Pop those bosu balls! At the end of the day, regardless of the bastardization of this term by pseudo-intellectual personal trainers, this simply means how well does a movement transfer to a desired activity. Hill sprints transfer positively to almost any activity.
Safety: Because you are running up a hill, you never reach maximum limb speed. This serves as a built-in safety mechanism for your hamstrings! Remember, strength-to-bodyweight ratio is a key component in predicting sprint speed (many of you have a great one so be careful and use a hill).
Strength:Hill sprints, like weight training, make you stronger! Hill sprints bridge the gap between strength training and speed training; they are in the middle of the force-velocity continuum.
Body Angle:The angle of your body sprinting up a hill is very similar to the acceleration phase of sprinting, offering direct strength transference. Furthermore, hill sprints require your knees to pump high, increase your stride rate and teach aggressive shoulder action (essential for maximum acceleration). Build Mental Toughness: All-out sprints repeatedly up a hill require testicular fortitude. You get in what you put in. Half speed gets LESS than half results. Whether you’re chasing down a bully that stole your kid’s bike or just want to kick ass in the corporate picnic flag football game, you will be confident because you have sprinted hills. Conditioning/Body Composition If you can sprint up hills, you will have no problem doing the same on flat ground. Hill sprints greatly increase metabolic demand compared to traditional sprints; this greater requirement in output exponentially increases conditioning levels . Hill sprints have an amazing effect on body composition because they are essentially a hybrid between sprints and weightlifting. Sprinters have some of the best physiques in the world. Endorphin Rush/Psychological boost After performing hill sprints, I feel invincible and empowered.
Functionality Pop those bosu balls! At the end of the day, regardless of the bastardization of this term by pseudo-intellectual personal trainers, this simply means how well does a movement transfer to a desired activity. Hill sprints transfer positively to almost any activity.
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