Sprinters vs. Distance Runners?

Question

What are the pros and cons of being a sprinter? What are the pros and cons of being a distance runner? (i.e. sprinters get paid more) The one with the best answer gets ten points!

Answer 1

I would say that sprinters get more injuries, as they exert themselves incredibly hard over a short period of time. However, in a race, if you have a slow start or have problems, you're pretty much finished. Distance runners also have injuries, though different types. You can also correct 'mistakes' throughout the race.

Answer 2

...

Hmmm...distance runners rule and sprinters drool?  Okay, bias aside.

***Distance runners (10k, half and full marathon)***

Pros:

-run distances that vastly improve their health.

-run in such a way that they can run for their whole lives, in competition and for their health.

-keep the weight off!  It takes running (and racing) long distances to burn that fat that so quickly builds up.

-are less constrained by genetics.  If you don't have a high proportion of fast twitch muscles, you won't be a great sprinter.  But with time and work, nearly everyone can improve and find success as a distance runner.

-are set to get into multi-sport events (e.g., triathlons).

Cons:

-typically put in much more extensive amounts of time running and training.

-if anything, get high-use muscle and tendon injuries that take a long while to recover.

***Sprinters (100m and 200m)***

Pros:  

-commonly can recover enough to run 2, 3, or 4 events in a meet, and relays, which is fun!

-run the events everyone likes to watch and cheer!

-enjoy a sense of power and strength that you won't commonly find among distance runners.

-are set to get into fast running events (e.g., football).

-may find their sprinting sets them up for excellent long jumping (e.g., Carl Lewis).

Cons:

-in a race, have got to get every part of the race right, right away.  There's next to no time, or absolutely no time, to recover from a mistake.

-put so much high stress on their muscles that they are vulnerable to serious strains.

Regards,

Phil

Answer 3

Well, i'm still in high school so it may be different for me. And i can't really do any for distance b/c i'm a sprinter.

Pro's:

-On my team even the sprinters have to be able to do distance. Although usually we're split into groups (sprinters, throwers, distance), and do different training, sometimes, we'll all have to do distance excercises. For instance 4mile intervals, 2 mile runs. Although we certainly can't run it as fast as the distance runners, we can do it.

-I've noticed ppl tend to get more into sprints. Above the 800, it gets kinda confusing. It's like you think you know who's out front, then the person next to you tells you that's not true and instead, the person is about to get lapped. Then, you can't tell who's in front b/c there's random ppl scattered all over the place. Sprints, it's usually more straightforward.

-You dont have to worry about getting spiked by the kid in front of you b/c you have to stay in your lane!

-Your race is usually over in less than a minute, you can do lots of events.

Cons:

-In that less than a minute, you could pull a muscle if you're not loose enough.

-It's really hard to beat your times after a while. In distance, you can have a kick at the end and really bring your times down, whereas in sprinting, it gets really hard to get your times much faster since there is no kick.

Closing:

Both take a lot of hard work and dedication. Ppl who say sprinters aren't runners have obviously never run a 400 all out, and distance runners in my opinion must have a lot of guts cuz i would NEVER have the courage to run anything above an 800 in a meet.

Answer 4

sprinters probably get more pulled muscles, aches and pains, but they also are stronger and mostly better looking and they are more idolized and renown. Long distance runners run alot more and is harder in concerns of training but will probably live alot longer

Answer 5

sprinters get hoes, distance dont, sprinters can run away frm cops, distance would get caught lol

Answer 6

sprinters get their races over quickly in seconds after waiting anxiously for them. distance runners wait anxiously for their race and spend at least 3:50 min plus before finishing.

sprinters are more entertaining in comparison to distance runners.

few sprinters will ever get to feel "runner's high" in comparison to the amount of distance runners who will experience this.

Answer 7

First of all I read in some other answers that sprinters get hurt easier...that is a load of bull. It is the same for sprinters and distance runners, but the types of injuries are different. A sprinter will usually get a fast injury. By that I mean a pulled muscle. A distance runner will usually get a wear and tear injury. By that I mean a stress fracture. Shin splints, stress fractures and ITBS is usually seen more in a distance runner. Knee, hip, and ankle injuries are also seen more often in distance runners because of the constant prolonged pounding they are putting there bodies through. But a sprinter is more likely to see a torn muscle, or ligament, and a sprinter is also more likely to see problems with their achilles tendons. So in the injury category sprinting and distance get the same amount.

Now for flexability. This should also be the same. Just because a sprinter has more muscle does not mean they have less flexability. In fact if you think about it a sprinter may have less flex than a sprinter because a sprinter puts their muscles through a larger range of motion while running than a distance runner ever will (especially hurdlers).

Sprinters usually do tend to be more popular than distance runners for example Marion Jones, Michael Johnson, Maurice Greene, and Florence Griffith Joyner. The reason sprinters are usually more popular is because people enjoy watching their events and more often world records will be broken in the sprints and jumps than long distance races.

Sprinters races are really fast and people won't get bored watching them where as with the 10,000 people may leave and go to the concession stand to get something to eat and come back just in time to watch the finish.

Distance runners get a lot of time to think while they run and they usually get to see a heck of a lot more than a sprinter when they train as well because they aren't stuck on an oval track just running round and round. They get out and do trail running and road running.

I think it is all a preference with the pros and cons of sprinters and long distance runners.

Answer 8

Sprinters have a bad rap due to some sprinters that tested for drugs. You are prone to injuires from pulling a muscle. Distrance runners muscles are more flex.

Answer 9

Sprinters have a born talent whereas distance runners can be made.