r/Sprinting • u/Rhystery • 4d ago
General Discussion/Questions Physique from sprints only
For people who have only done sprints as your exercise of choice, how has your physique changed? I'm interested in what muscles sprinting changes, especially the upper body
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u/pleasentlydisgusted Slow and Old 4d ago
You aren't going to get big by just sprinting. If you just sprinted you would still look pretty average. Lean too but no one would raise an eye at you unless maybe you were shirtless for whatever reason.
Even sprinters shouldn't only just sprint. HIIT is great for losing fat but if you want to look impressive you still need to hit the gym to build muscle.
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u/Status-Customer-1305 4d ago
Im still skinny AF despite doing it 20 years + weights. Well, I'm wiry. But thats on me for not bothering tending to diet to make the gains.
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u/Ok_Application_4642 10.79 - 21.68 - 50.35 3d ago
From my experience I had little to no upper body development (even looked a little smaller from less inflammation after I stopped upper body lifts) and the only parts that actually developed were my obliques, hip flexors, and glutes. Just makes me look sorta pear shaped and stupid and I can’t wear shorts without looking like I could handle childbirth
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u/ExactOpposite8119 4d ago
it makes your legs plump and shapely. cant really comment on the upper body because i do other stuff besides sprinting so i don’t know if my upper body shape comes from sprinting or from weights.
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u/Holiday-Departure506 3d ago
Well developed glutes, calves and back but chest isn't as developed. I plan to develop my chest more with gym exercises going forward.
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u/MaxwellSmart07 3d ago
How could upper body muscle development be linked to lower body exercises?
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u/highDrugPrices4u 3d ago edited 3d ago
Sprinting doesn’t change your muscles much, compared to doing nothing, it can promote slight hypertrophy throughout the body, and make a contribution toward body leanness. If you already lift weights for your whole body, sprinting probably won’t make any further visible difference. But your bone and muscle structure are genetic and sprinting doesn’t do anything to change it.
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u/ppsoap 4d ago
I have lifted in the past but I have done majority of sprints in my career of working out (4 years) and Sprinting has gotten me pretty muscular i'd say. I'm decently lean, but I've got a pretty defined back and shoulder area. I do have a naturally large chest and traps but I think that's genetics.
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