Should a 100m sprinter run cross country?

Answer 1

A 100 meter sprinter should not run cross country! We as humans have different types of muscle fibers, fast twitch, slow twitch, and intermediate. Individuals who are good at sprinting really fast for short periods of time have a high amount of fast twitch fibers. The only way to improve the speed and force of a fast twitch fiber is to replicate the motion that you are trying to improve. What this means is that if a person wants to improve in sprinting they should sprint in practice. They should also do plyometrics, strength training with high weight low reps, anything that will activate and train the neuromuscular system to recruit more fast twitch fibers. Long distance slower running for long periods of time such as in cross country will recruit more slow twitch fibers and can even make the fast twitch fibers become slower! Running cross country would actually be detrimental for a sprinter.