Sprint faster? Jump higher?

Question

I would love to be able to sprint faster and jump higher. What are methods and techniques used to improve these, and what are the reasonings behind them? Also, will being able to sprint faster help my long distance pace?

Answer 1

no, distance running will help you run faster- not the other way around.

Isometric plyometrics will help speed and jumping. Like box jumps done properly

Answer 2

Both motions employ most of the same muscles and require explosiveness, so usually vertical gains are accompanied by speed gains and vise versa. You want to build leg strength. Squats are the most fundamental exercise for this, but there are many others. Then you want to be able to apply that force in your jumps and sprints, so do plyometrics (jumping exercises) and try sprinting 20, 30, 40 yards several times. There's some info here http://offto.net/jumpjump