sdb

????

strawser9

Sprints...by a mile

muscle-sparing FTW!

I haven't done either for a year though

sdb

I'm going to start sprinting again. I use to go everyday to the track during my lunch break. now I study...

CFDAD

Sprint. I'm all about power/explosive running movements under 40 yards.

Malley

Both can be used to anyones benefit....but sprints for sure.

Boki

used to be long distance, but now i get cramps in my calf and that hurts like a mothaf*ckA , so i choose SPRINTS

Michael

Sprints are much more fun and are better for explosive strength and hypertrophy, but long distances are healthier, but can lead to atrophy...

Malley

Long distance running doesnt exactly lead to atrophy. It depends on your nutrition up to that point.

strawser9

Exactly. It is still diet that decides whether or not atrophy will set in. If you don't give your body the carbohydrates and protein it needs while you're running, you will end up losing muscle. If you're running 10 miles it will be hard to make up the calories you burn...why most long distance runners are on the skinny side. Long distance running tends to burn carbohydrates efficiently, so it is extremely important to make them available to burn.

Sprints can have the same effect...If you run 40 yard sprints 3 hours a day, this can cause atrophy as well.

J Mac

I would rather do 500 meters on an ergometer than put my joints through sprinting.

Ben

Sprints FTW

This is one of those things that really gets to me. The people who like distance stuff are the same group who bang on about ‘functional strength’ and all that crap but what’s so functional about running 20 miles? I can’t ever remember a time when I needed to run more than a few hundred yards. Sprinting on the other hand is very handy as it enables you to get an upper hand in most sports and do useful stuff like catching a guy that just nicked your wallet.

Long distance running is a pointless waste of time unless you’re competing as you could get the same fat burning and cardio results from interval training and the resulting EPOC

Malley

I'd never say running for distance is pointless.

kesunaitsumi

I concur. I enjoy running distances, what i like to do is run for a distance then sprint and do it all over again. I like to mix it up.

Packard

My basic rule is, "Train your muscles the way you intend to use them."

If you want to be a sprinter, then sprint.

If you want to be a distance runner, then run the distance.

If you want to condition your heart, you need to work at an elevated pulse rate for 20 minutes 3 or 4 times per week. This means 5 minutes to gain the elevated pulse rate; 20 minutes at the elevated pulse rate; and 5 minutes of slower running to allow the pulse rate to gradually return to normal.