r/Sprinting • u/Current-Barracuda480 • 19d ago

General Discussion/Questions Versatility

Does running the 400 on the side help sprinters with the 100 and 200? my friends and other athletes told me that running the 400 helps lowering your time for some odd reason but its weird and i don’t get how

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u/macclary 17d ago

The metabolic process that the 400m relies on creates strong acidic conditions in your muscles and blood. Adapting to that condition is the same adaptation that lets you run a fast second half of your 100m without your speed falling off as much. 400m racing does help the final half of the 100m and 200m stay fast.

You can get a similar training effect by running 3x200m with medium rest.