About Running Drills

Running drills are an effective way to condition as well as improve speed and endurance. Each drill has a different function and goal for its impacted outcome. Running drills as a sport became popular and branded during the start of the original Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. These days running drills are used to get in shape.

Type

There are many different types of running drills, like high knee, butt kickers and wind sprints, as well as jog to sprint drills. Some drills are used to work on form such as the butt kicker drill, and others are meant to work on power such as the high knee drill. Still, just about all of the running drills will help work on speed, endurance and conditioning as a whole.

Effects

The effects of performing various running drills range. Done on a regular basis, running drills can actually improve circulation as well as endurance, especially breathing and heart rate function. They may also improve muscle tone (especially in the legs) as well as serve as a way to lose excess weight.

Features

Butt kickers are when the runner starts out at a jog and brings his heel into contact with his buttocks. The runner should only bend his legs at the knees, and his upper thigh should be pointing vertically at the ground at all times. Jog to sprint drills require the runner to begin at a slow steady jog and begin sprinting after a predetermined mark. After sprinting for a short time, the runner returns to a jog and repeats this process as desired.

Risk Factors

These drills should be performed with caution for new runners, as most are high-impact, high-intensity exercises. Breathe throughout the drill in order to prevent overexhaustion. Doing these drills increase the risk of injury, especially to your hips, knees and lower legs from items such as stress fractures to wearing down cartilage and joints from high impact with hard to semi-hard surfaces.

Benefits

Improved running performance is one of the biggest payoffs of doing running drills. These drills also serve as a cardio workout. When performed continuously for longer than 30 minutes, running drills is also a great way to build endurance. Among the health benefits, running drills will also improve form and stamina in many aspects of your life, helping to boost energy.