10 Exercises to Improve Running Speed

If you want to improve your speed and power, you need to work at getting faster. It doesn't just happen. It doesn't have to be complicated workouts, just simple things like these tips and 10 exercises:

1. Starting and acceleration speed is critical during games because you rarely reach maximum speed. Work on quick start drills and plyometric power exercises like squat jumps, long jumps and box jumps (pictured below).

When you do box jumps, the platform needs to high enough to challenge you, but not too high. From an athletic stance, bend your hips and knees and swing your arms back to gather momentum.

Explosively jump onto the box and hold for a second. Step off the box. That's one repetition. Repeat for 6-8 repetitions.

2. Work on your running mechanics every day. Wasted motion and bad running technique will stop you from improving.

3. Strengthen and condition your hips, glutes, thighs and hamstrings. These groups make up your athletic "power center."  Clock or 3-D Lunges work well here.

4. Keep your hips loose and flexible by doing exercises like leg swings (pictured below). Tight hip flexors will cause problems to other areas such as the glutes.

5. "Powerize" your running with exercises like power step ups and squat jumps. Other single leg exercises like lunges are great because single leg exercises use the same pathways that it takes to run.

6. Run fast! You get faster by training fast.  If you play a sport, do your practice drills at full speed.

7. Make squats, deadlifts, good mornings, glute/ham drops and hang cleans regular exercises in your routine.

8. Strengthen your core every day. Exercises like planks, side planks and bridges can be done every day. A strong core is important for speed endurance.

If you will do these simple things on a regular basis, your running speed will improve. You will probably need the help of a professional trainer to make sure you are doing things right. 

Train hard and smart!

Download your FREE 10-Minute Strength and Power Workouts now!

Other things being equal, a muscular, powerful athlete will outperform a fat, slower or skinny, weaker athlete. Sports Fitness Hut's Fat Blaster Athletic Power Training System will give you your "lean and mean" athletic machine!

Mark Dilworth, BA, PES
Sports Fitness Hut