Just about every runner I know wants to be able to run faster, but how 2 run faster is their question. In fact, how 2 run faster is the question on the mind of just about every runner who participates in races like marathons and even runners who are just running for the enjoyment of the activity and the satisfaction they get from it. Want to know how 2 run faster in your next marathon? Well, let me introduce you to my little friend, the tangent.

                For all intents and purposes a tangent is a straight line that touches a curve; the tangent comes into play in a marathon because quite often the track that is set for the event has plenty of curves. A runner could wind up running more than they need to in order to complete the race because they stick to the “middle” of the track and follow the curve of the path. And if said runner is covering more ground than they need to this could negatively impact their total time for the course and if it is a competitive race it could cost them that one place further up as they cross the finish line. By following the tangent of the track a runner can eliminate all the extra ground they would be covering otherwise and still run the distance of the course per the rules for the marathon. So a tangent is something you need to know about if you care about how 2 run faster in your next marathon race.

It’s not the only way to figure out how 2 run faster and shave some extra miles and minutes off of your total running time.

                You don’t have to be a speed demon or a math whiz to learn how 2 run faster, all it takes is a little creativity and probably some research. The internet is a great place to find information on just about any topic you could ever want to know anything about, even how 2 run faster. Look up running on a tangent and see what comes up in your search, I’m willing to bet the supporting evidence will prove what I’ve already told you about how 2 run faster using the secret of the tangent when running a marathon. And it really doesn’t even have to be a marathon, it can just be your usual running route that you train on for endurance; all it needs is a few curves. A track isn’t really going to have a tangent so it is not the best place to practice this technique for how 2 run faster. You can run on a circuit though, like running around your neighborhood or around the block if you’re in the city; as long as there are enough curves to give you something to work with you will be all set to use this secret of how 2 run faster.

                Now that I’ve given you the secret of the tangent it is time to put your new information on how 2 run faster into practice. Like I said you don’t necessarily need to run in a marathon to use this technique, you can use it on the route you run regularly as long as there are enough curves in your route. Try using this tip when you are trying to learn how 2 run faster: when running your tangent, try gradually increasing, and then decreasing your speed. This will build stamina and increase the amount of work your muscles can do without risking hurting yourself. Another secret on ways to run faster, run smarter, not harder!

                Runners workouts can come in many different guises, mostly different names and perhaps duration of sets. In the end however, many of these workouts for runners are very similar. Most of them fall into three categories: Endurance, Speed, and Agility. Like any workout, runners workouts can become routine very quickly and then you are left forging ahead where you could previously sail through a workout because you were enjoying it. So how can you enjoy your runners workouts again? Simple, take what you know and add a little to it making your workout different each time. You do not need to change the end result or the core principle of your runners workouts but with a little influence from other cultures you can spice things up and make working out fun again.

                One easy and quick way to shake up your runners workouts is to try something the Swedish call a “fartlek”. Fartlek comes from Old Norse and means “speed play”; since the goal of some runners workouts is to increase your running speed why not have fun while you’re at it? Fartleks are easy to include in your runners workouts because they do not have to ever be the same two times around, each time you engage in fartleks you are doing something you never have before and never need to do the same way again. For example say you are working on your Endurance running, where you run for a longer distance at a steadier pace. Sometimes this can get a little dull, especially if you follow the same route every day. As you are running along, you spy a house up ahead, about 50 yards out; you speed up until you reach the house and then gradually fall back into your previous Endurance runners workouts rhythm. Congratulations, you have just engaged in a fartlek! Wasn’t that easy? Chances are you enjoyed the break in your routine, so you decide to do it again and scan your route ahead for a new “target”; a car on the curb looks good, and it is only 20 yards away so you pick up speed more quickly in order to reach it faster than you broke even with the house before resuming your Endurance runners workouts pace.

                Another way to add variety to your runners workouts is to employ a technique known as running in intervals.

Most often these are used when running on a track because most tracks are marked so that you will know how far you are running and intervals rely on you knowing how far you are going for each set. Interval runners workouts consist of running at a consistent speed (can be fast, can be slower) and then jogging for the same length of time before starting to run again. You can use intervals to add some fresh motion into your Endurance or Speed training exercises. Along the same lines as the interval is the grand finale or “kick” that runners often use to end a race. While a kick is not meant to be a mad dash for the finish line it can be a great way to end a race in style. Simply give yourself a little extra burst of speed and go out with a flourish. You never know, other runners in the race might be exhausted by then and you stand a good chance of winning if you have paced yourself!

                Runners workouts don’t have to be dull and boring! Shake it up and change your routine as often as you like. Keep running fun and fresh in your mind and soon you will see real improvement in your running times.

In running there are three basic categories of training exercises to improve speed running:

              Long Slow Distance training, Speed training, and Hills training. Each is important to your  training as a runner,  but for  now  we  will  be  focusing  on Speed training exercises. It is true that by utilizing Long Slow Distance training a runner can gradually improve speed running because their muscles will be stronger but this will not help win a race on its own. In order improve speed running you will need to focus on Speed training methods. Before you aim to improve you speed running you will need a good mastery of and foundation in Long Slow Distance training because you will need the basic reserves of strength it will provide to power your goal to improve speed running in your future. Speed training will place an enormous amount of stress on your body and you have to be prepared for it; think of the Long Slow Distance running as an extended warm up exercise, you wouldn’t skip a warm up would you? The speed training techniques we will discuss here can be done using a low or high level of training depending on your needs and requirements in order to improve speed running. If your body is fit as a fiddle you can probably move on to higher intensity training more quickly than someone who is new to running. The first step to improve speed running in your workouts is to run a little faster when doing your Long Slow Distance running. This isn’t going to be a quick fix but it will lay the groundwork for you to begin to improve speed running in short and long distance races because you will be stronger. This doesn’t mean add sprints into a long run regime; you don’t want to be exhausted by the end of your workout, instead you want to “feel the burn” and then cool down before that burn turns into pain and swelling. The “burn” is your muscle fiber breaking down, and with proper rest and recovery between runs you can use this breakdown to actually increase your muscle mass and improve speed running later on. For your first Speed training exercise you will need to start out jogging. Just jog until you get into a comfortable rhythm. Once you are comfortable, ramp it up a notch and run a little faster. Continue to improve speed running and do this until you are going as fast as you can without too much strain, and then reduce your speed until you are jogging again. Repeat this process several times, as many as you can without feeling as though you are going to have to stop immediately. A cool down is vital to your health and safety as a runner. The next time you use this alternating Speed training exercise to improve speed running, try to lift your knees just a little bit higher. Sprinters have always been known to improve speed running by lifting their knees higher while they run, and it can be effective for longer distance runners as well. You can also try to bend your knees more as you run and squatting slightly as you run.

This can improve speed running by making your hips more flexible in their range of motion which is restricted when your muscles are tense and working overtime maintaining your posture.

These are some of the simplest and easiest ways to give your body the edge it needs to increase your stamina and ability to run faster and longer. Be sure to use a well-rounded training regime that includes Strength training, Speed training, and always warm up and cool down as you exercise.

How to Improve Running Speed                A true athlete is on a continuous quest for perfection in their sport; once they reach a goal or milestone such as a runner completing their first marathon they are immediately drawn to ways they can continue to improve their performance. A runner typically seeks to improve themselves with exercises for speed, strength, and endurance as these are all important when running for pleasure or as part of an organization or team. Most runners would love to know how to improve running speed because speed is an important part of running even if you are running purely for your own satisfaction. If you would be interested in learning how to improve running speed in your next race, please read on. As with any health advice you should run any new training ideas past your physician (no pun intended) before putting them into practice as part of your regime.

                The first way you can learn how to improve running speed is what you are doing right now:

 get comfortable and perform a simple web search. There is a plethora of information available on the net and plenty of that is information on how to improve running speed. What you need to be careful of is ensuring that your sources of information are credible ones; this can be done by looking in the footers of the websites you visit and looking for logos of well known groups and agencies in the sports and medical fields. Any websites that are endorsed by say The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports can be counted on to have good quality information on them that will be safe to use on your journey of how to improve running speed.

                Another way you can figure out how to improve running speed is to ask a personal fitness trainer or track and field coach how you could improve your running speed based on your level of experience with running. A qualified professional may charge you for their advice, but they have a vested interest in providing you with good information. Firstly their reputation is on the line if they pass along false or faulty information on how to improve running speed and they also may want you to take what you learn about from them and either pay them for training or run as a member of their team or organization.

                Along similar lines as the last way to learn how to improve running speed is asking a professional runner how to improve running speed. Obviously a professional runner has gotten where they are in their athletic career because they are good at what they do so it would stand to reason that they would be able to offer some good advice. If there isn’t a pro runner in your family or circle of friends you might have to use the internet to get in touch with them to ask how to improve running speed. Sometimes pro athletes will have websites where they post updates about their careers and answer questions; this would be a great place to ask them your question.

                There are more ways to learn how to improve running speed of course, but these three are the easiest to accomplish and are likely to give you some pretty good information that you can put towards becoming a faster runner. When you have a question about how to improve running speed there is only one way to find the answers you are looking for and that is to get out there and find them. It is very important to ensure that you are healthy enough for mild to moderate physical activity before embarking on a training program for any sort of sport.

Drills for quickness are not just for track and field runners or basketball players though athletes in these sports certainly need to be fast on their feet; drills for quickness are for anyone who participates in a team sport whether on the ground or in the pool. Just as important to your development as an athlete as strength training and power training,

drills for quickness can give you the extra edge you need to bring your best game to the field.

No matter how much you train to get stronger, faster, or gain more stamina if you neglect one of these three you will find yourself in trouble sooner or later. For now we will be focusing on the basics.

Before you begin a training session you must:

• Be cleared by a physician as physically fit enough to participate in the sport of your choice. You might think you’re good to go, but just to be safe, clear it with your family physician before you get started because family medical history and any medications you take are important considerations when engaging in physical activities such as drills for quickness. Your blood pressure, and heart and lung conditions are important things to pay attention to.

• Take the time to warm up first. Do some stretches to loosen your muscles and engage in a brief bout of cardio with some jumping jacks, jump rope, or running in place are all good foundations to any type of exercise activity that will enable you to get limber and have your heart pumping. Most drills for quickness are based in a cardio style workout so warming up is essential.

• Hydrate. Make sure you have been drinking water for at least an hour prior to training as well as keeping fresh cool water on hand in case you get thirsty while working on your drills for quickness. The more you are in motion the more water your body needs to stay at peak performance.

During your drills for quickness training, pay attention to:

• The Rules. The rules are there for a reason, mainly for your safety and that of others around you if you are training in a public place. Drills for quickness could mean lots of movement on your part that other might not be able to anticipate, so be considerate and play it safe. While these kinds of activites are often times solitary activities safety should still be one of your primary concerns.

• Your Body. Most drills for quickness suggest you operate on a 1:3 rest ratio, meaning if you exercise for one minute, rest for the next three before getting moving once again. If you feel tired, pay attention to your body and read its cues to let you know when it’s time to take a break from your training session.

Once you are finished exercising, remember to:

• Cool Down Slowly. Do not under any circumstances just stop your drills for quickness. Your body is in motion and needs to be brought to a halt gradually so as not to cause yourself injury either from momentum or by suddenly reducing your heart rate and breathing by stopping suddenly.

• Hydrate Again! Water is your friend during any drills for quickness; your body requires water to keep itself running smoothly, so keep a few bottles on hand or in your fridge. The recommended amount of water a person should consume in a day is 64 ounces or 4 average size bottles of water; if you are exercising you will need more than this, so drink up!

 Now you’re ready for some drills for quickness!

                If you are an average runner it is likely that you would like to know how to get faster at running; each time you achieve a new level of mastery over your running you look ahead to the next goal. There are no secrets for how to get faster at running but rather simple gems of information that if used sensibly will help you on your quest of how to get faster at running. Of course this article is not meant to be a substitute for a doctor or a trainer’s advice, so take these tips on how to get faster at running in the spirit in which they were intended.

Tip #1: Run Faster

                Seem a little too obvious? Or perhaps you are wondering what I’m getting at by mentioning this first as this is the goal you are reaching for so of course you are going to be running faster! The key to this tip is to run faster on your long distance runs; the more you work your muscles and recover correctly, the more muscle mass you will accumulate and the more stamina you will have in reserve.

This should be your first step on your list of how to get faster at running because it has the lowest impact on your body and will also prepare your body for the next step in your quest of how to get faster at running.

Tip # 2: Kick It into High Gear…Sometimes

                The content of this tip is geared at those who have already learned a little about how to get faster at running through the technique of Tip #1 and are ready to move on to the next step. So here it is…. Run faster that your usual long distance running speed for a short time, then jog; repeat as often as you wish during the duration of your run. There are several different workouts for speed techniques that tell you how to get faster at running, and I have found that most of them boil down to increasing your speed and then decreasing back to a jogging pace during a long distance run. This will result in a moderate strain on your body so be sure to check with your physician first and have been running before; if you are a new runner do not start in using this technique as you could injure your muscles from them not being used to the activity.

Tip #3: Keep Running, and Running, and Running Some More

                If you are serious and want to learn how to get faster at running, you will find over time that one of the best ways to be a faster runner is to stick with your speed conditiong program. This does not mean to run every day all out as fast as you can but rather find a groove that works for you and make sure that you are in it for the long haul. This is the “secret” of how to get faster at running that most people won’t tell you because it is one of those common sense tips; but at the same time because these tips are so common sense they are often overlooked and the benefit from them is lost to those who want to know how to get faster at running.

                As with any form of exercise, all things in moderation. Run as often as you are able to keep your body used to the strain of running, and alternate running faster for short distances with jogging while you are out for a run. Running is an excellent way to tone your body, burn calories, and keep your cardiovascular system going strong. So if you are curious as to how to get faster at running, try these three simple tips; soon you’ll know how to get faster at running and all of your friends will want to know too!