• Question: which way is the fastes way to get faster in terms of science?

    Asked by Berta444 to Andrew, Dan, Emilia, Helen, Katy, LauraAnne, Stephanie on 7 Nov 2016.
    • Photo: Dan Gordon

      Dan Gordon answered on 7 Nov 2016:

      This is a very clever question. If want to get faster the key is to develop what we call your type II muscle fibres. These are muscle fibres that allow you to perform fast power actions. However the key is how to achieve this. Firslty we will need to ensure that muscle are strong enough to take his increased speed. SO to do this we need to do strength training that will increase muscular strength which is different to power. Then we need to ensure that muscle has enough energy, in this case what we call the high energy phosphates (phosphocreatine) stored for thes emast contrations. This is done by doing training tat uses this energy up and then having sufficient recovery between these sessions to allow this be recovered and also build some more. Finally we need to ensure that the connection between the brain and these developed muscles is faster as well. This means we need to enhance what is termed the neuromuscular junction (connection between the muscle and the nerve). this is achieved by doing exercise that is referred to as plyometric. These are actions which are developing the elastic recoil in the muscle and so allowing for fast muscle actions.

    • Photo: Emilia McAllister-Jepps

      Emilia McAllister-Jepps answered on 7 Nov 2016:

      Great question! Great answer Dan!

      Speaking from the Sprint Kayak side, I can fully support Dan’s answer. In my sport the person who is the strongest generally wins. But that is not necessarily always the biggest person. In power sports we aim to have a good body weight to power ratio. So for example Athlete A is 100kg and can also weight lift 100kg has a body weight to power ratio of 1:1. Athlete B is 60kg who can lift 75kg has a body weight to power ratio of 1:1.25. Therefore Athlete B person, although not lifting as heavy a weight as Athlete A, is able to lift more relative to their size and as such would be classed as stronger.

      It is thought that the fastest athletes have a body weight to power ratio of at least 1:1.4, which would mean that a 100kg athlete would need to be able to weight if 140kg for a number of lifts.

    • Photo: LauraAnne Furlong

      LauraAnne Furlong answered on 9 Nov 2016:

      this is a great question – and there’s no simple answer. having fast muscle fibres is important, and doing strength training and training which includes lots of fast short jumps, hops or skips is important.

      This is the muscle part of it, but a very simple way to increasing your speed is to concentrate on spending as little time as possible with your foot on the ground. If you can take more steps in a second, and make sure that each step you take stays the same length, then your run faster. Keeping your upper body nice and tall, leaning further forward as you start running (this has a positive effect on the direction you can apply force to the ground at) and landing on the ball of your foot as you run (which also shortens the length of time you are in contact with the ground for) will also help you get quicker.

Comments