Fast twitch and slow twitch muscle fibers...

[blamb425]

There are a jumble of answers I've found, some say yes, some say no..it's getting very confusing and I need a bit of help with this situation

I run XC while sprinting for track in the spring. While I run long in the summer and fall, and sprint in the spring, are some of my fast-twitch fibers being converted into slow twitch? If so, is there a way I could convert them back perhaps during the winter when I can train for sprints?

 

[thespeakerbox]

no.

 

[presidentender]

This article's sources say "jury's out."

Overall, I wouldn't worry about it. Want to sprint? Train for sprints. Want to run a marathon? Train for a marathon.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: thespeakerbox
no.

Your answers are seriously poor. The best answer though is to train whichever you're more interested in. If you like XC, run longer distance events during track. If you like sprints, train plyos, lifting, and sprints.

 

[nick1985]

It is possible to train for both, and be successful.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: nick1985
It is possible to train for both, and be successful.

They require two different things. To be a good sprinter, you will have a lot more muscle mass. That mass does NOT translate well in long distance running. That's why decathletes aren't as good when compared to their peers that specialize in certain events. You can be a jack of all trades, but you can't be the best if you don't specialize.

 

[Deeko]

Well, I don't think any of us here are looking to qualify for the olympics.

I'm not much of a sprinter, but I have a lot of fast-twich muscle - hence I've always been pretty good at powerlifting, but I can still run a 5k in about 20 minutes, which isn't bad. You can train both.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: Deeko
Well, I don't think any of us here are looking to qualify for the olympics.

I'm not much of a sprinter, but I have a lot of fast-twich muscle - hence I've always been pretty good at powerlifting, but I can still run a 5k in about 20 minutes, which isn't bad. You can train both.

Well, I was just assuming that the OP may want to go to the state competition if he is good while focusing in one. It's hard to go for sprints if you train distance earlier in the year.

 

[blamb425]

I am more of a sprinter...based on what I've been told, I shouldn't do XC too much more; I still have a couple years left, so I guess it shouldn't be too bad, especially if I run a ton of sprints this winter, add some sprint days in this xc season, and in the future

Thanks for the replies

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: blamb425
I am more of a sprinter...based on what I've been told, I shouldn't do XC too much more; I still have a couple years left, so I guess it shouldn't be too bad, especially if I run a ton of sprints this winter, add some sprint days in this xc season, and in the future

Thanks for the replies

Well, you can do some longer runs if you still involve some sprint work. Plyometrics, weightlifting, stretching, balance, and all kinds of running should be part of your training regimen. Work on your form, etc. Don't overwork yourself and really make sure to lift some weights. I regret not doing that during track. I was always left wondering how much faster I would've been if I would've involved squats, power cleans, etc.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: Deeko
Well, I don't think any of us here are looking to qualify for the olympics.

I'm not much of a sprinter, but I have a lot of fast-twich muscle - hence I've always been pretty good at powerlifting, but I can still run a 5k in about 20 minutes, which isn't bad. You can train both.

Well, I was just assuming that the OP may want to go to the state competition if he is good while focusing in one. It's hard to go for sprints if you train distance earlier in the year.

I was our 2nd runner on a state qualifying XC team, and I also broke :50 in the 400 meter dash. Now if he is training for the 100, then yeah totally different things, but even in 'sprints', the events very a lot. Endurance from XC can help out enormously in an event such as the 400, and even more so (although not as much of a 'sprint') the 800.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: Deeko
Well, I don't think any of us here are looking to qualify for the olympics.

I'm not much of a sprinter, but I have a lot of fast-twich muscle - hence I've always been pretty good at powerlifting, but I can still run a 5k in about 20 minutes, which isn't bad. You can train both.

Well, I was just assuming that the OP may want to go to the state competition if he is good while focusing in one. It's hard to go for sprints if you train distance earlier in the year.

I was our 2nd runner on a state qualifying XC team, and I also broke :50 in the 400 meter dash. Now if he is training for the 100, then yeah totally different things, but even in 'sprints', the events very a lot. Endurance from XC can help out enormously in an event such as the 400, and even more so (although not as much of a 'sprint') the 800.

Yeah, it ultimately depends on the person though. Some people are very dominantly slow-twitch, while others are very dominantly fast-twitch. Some people get an awesome balance while others don't. Also, I was assuming he meant quicker events - 100m and 200m.

 

[Pollock]

Originally posted by: blamb425
I am more of a sprinter...based on what I've been told, I shouldn't do XC too much more; I still have a couple years left, so I guess it shouldn't be too bad, especially if I run a ton of sprints this winter, add some sprint days in this xc season, and in the future

Thanks for the replies

Running long distances shouldn't impair your sprinting ability; all it will do is develop your aerobic capacity.

Matter of fact, some of the best sprinters in my state year in and year out run cross country.

Either way, to run distance, it's keeping you in shape. It's not going to hurt you, and will invariably help you (IMO).

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: Pollock

Originally posted by: blamb425
I am more of a sprinter...based on what I've been told, I shouldn't do XC too much more; I still have a couple years left, so I guess it shouldn't be too bad, especially if I run a ton of sprints this winter, add some sprint days in this xc season, and in the future

Thanks for the replies

Running long distances shouldn't impair your sprinting ability; all it will do is develop your aerobic capacity.

Matter of fact, some of the best sprinters in my state year in and year out run cross country.

Either way, to run distance, it's keeping you in shape. It's not going to hurt you, and will invariably help you (IMO).

That's not quite true. I've done XC and done sprints and have been slower because of the former. The breathing is very different as is the type of exercise. One is very low intensity and one is very high. Also, if he is looking to do 100/200 type stuff, he's going to need to put on some functional muscle, which slow-steady exercise will counter. However, if he uses XC a couple of times a week along with sprint work and such to cross-train, it would most definitely help him, especially in events like the 400.