Does a fast sprinter have an advantage when switching to distance?

No. They are at an enormous disadvantage.

It is only an advantage if the race is really really really slow, then your top speed will blow away the distance runners in a finishing kick.

Sprinters have a higher percentage of fast twitch muscle fibers. There are two types of fast twitch fiber, described as "white fiber" and "brown fiber". The white fibers are the fastest and will change very little with distance training. The brown fibers are not quite as fast, but with distance training they can "convert" over to behave a lot like slow twitch fibers. My guess is that great 800m runners have a higher percentage of brown fast twitch fibers.

Fast twitch muscle has a different metabolism than slow twitch. You can run an entire 100m race hardly even breathing, because those fibers don't require oxygen but they then fatigue very quickly.

Oo thanks for the info! I wonder which I have more of lol if it's a lost cause trying to become a fast distance runner or if I should take up sprinting again at the ripe age of 31;)

Yes. Sprinters and distance runners are both built to run. They both have long legs relative to their torso length. They both have tendon insertion points that are close to the joints. They both tend to have a narrow hips/pelvis. Working against all these advantages is the fact that sprinters have more fast twitch muscles, but it's still a net win compared to the general population.

Collins is doing well at 40 (9.93) and Gatlin at 34 (9.80). Take care of yourself and you can run fast for a long time.

Iagree wrote:

Oo thanks for the info! I wonder which I have more of lol if it's a lost cause trying to become a fast distance runner or if I should take up sprinting again at the ripe age of 31;)

There are three ways you can figure out your muscle fiber composition. The first two are the most accurate, the third gives you an idea (the third method is perhaps accurate as well if proper analysis exists). The first two are expensive, the third is inexpensive.

1. MRI scanning can now be used to determine your muscle fiber composition.

2. Muscle biopsy was previously the only method. It involves sticking needles into your muscles and extracting fibers.

3. Genetic testing can give insight into your muscle fiber composition. Online services like 23andMe charge around $100 to analyze your DNA. The famous "sport gene" that David Epstein writes about, is an indicator of fast twitch percentage. I can't remember the label for that gene, I think it is something like "AN38". If you have that gene all over the place it is a safe bet you have a high fast twitch percentage. The report produced by 23andMe will mention you have sprinting ability if their system sees that gene.

Thanks for the confidence boost:) I wonder where I can borrow a starting block from... also, thanks for the additional info about runner types! The only one I don't fit is longer legs/shorter torso. I'm the opposite, yet somehow speedy.

Iagree wrote:

Thanks for the confidence boost:) I wonder where I can borrow a starting block from... also, thanks for the additional info about runner types! The only one I don't fit is longer legs/shorter torso. I'm the opposite, yet somehow speedy.

That guy didn't know what he was talking about. A lot of good and even great sprinters have shorter legs. Shorter legs, especially a shorter tibia (lower leg) can help increase turnover (stride frequency). Explosiveness is more important. I bet you are a good jumper.

Just now seeing the post about muscle fiber composition. Very cool! I wish I could go the MRI route, I find those fascinating. Thanks for the info!

Short legs can help turnover wrote:

Iagree wrote:

Thanks for the confidence boost:) I wonder where I can borrow a starting block from... also, thanks for the additional info about runner types! The only one I don't fit is longer legs/shorter torso. I'm the opposite, yet somehow speedy.

That guy didn't know what he was talking about. A lot of good and even great sprinters have shorter legs. Shorter legs, especially a shorter tibia (lower leg) can help increase turnover (stride frequency). Explosiveness is more important. I bet you are a good jumper.

Oohh, good to know! I like to think I'm a pretty good jumper :) during my short lived stint as a gymnast the main things I was good at were jumping and sprinting down the vault runway, ha.

Most sprinters don't have the guts to switch to 800 or 1500 because of the hard training required compared to running 100 or 200.

Kind of answers your question as its a mute point

A much simpler way to get an idea of what kind of muscle fibers you have is to run two tests. A vertical jump test and a short sprint of some kind. If you do well at those two thing you have a larger amount of fast twitch fiber amd if not then you probably have more slow twitch.

Coach G wrote:

Most sprinters don't have the guts to switch to 800 or 1500 because of the hard training required compared to running 100 or 200.

Kind of answers your question as its a mute point

lol do joggers actually believe this?

Well, first, what level sprinter are we talking about in this hypothetical scenario? An 11.2 guy it 10.2 guy? Because you probably have to have the speed to run 11.2 or so become an elite 1500m runner. In general, a faster sprinter has a single-faceted advantage over s slower runner at longer distances--high speed reserve, which is one major limiting factor at races of all distances. But because endurance capacity is also strongly influenced and ultimately limited by genetics, it isn't a given that a fast sprinter will be able to attain the endurance required to perform at a high level in distance events. Elite distances runners are rare specimens who combine far above average speed with very high aerobic capacity and running economy, all of which again, not just speed, are ultimately determined by genetics.

Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner. Unless the OP was a successful sprinter in D1 in college, it is pretty likely that his muscle make up won't stand in the way of training for and trying to be competitive in the 800/mile. (Who knows what competitive means. The guy could train twice a day and compete nationally or he could train 2 or 3 times a week and run races in his part of his city) Once he is competitive in the 800/mile, he should be able to run a good enough 5k to keep from embarrassing himself compared to his 800.

mediocresprinter wrote:

Coach G wrote:

Most sprinters don't have the guts to switch to 800 or 1500 because of the hard training required compared to running 100 or 200.

Kind of answers your question as its a mute point

lol do joggers actually believe this?

The point is true!!

Please list all the good college 100 and 200 metre sprinters who switched to the 800 or 1500 later and were good?

THERE ARE NONE!!!

Run Doctor wrote:

mediocresprinter wrote:

lol do joggers actually believe this?

The point is true!!

Please list all the good college 100 and 200 metre sprinters who switched to the 800 or 1500 later and were good?

THERE ARE NONE!!!

Brandon Johnson. Elijah Manangoi switched from 400 to 1500.

Run Doctor wrote:

mediocresprinter wrote:

lol do joggers actually believe this?

The point is true!!

Please list all the good college 100 and 200 metre sprinters who switched to the 800 or 1500 later and were good?

THERE ARE NONE!!!

Please list all the good college 800 and 1500 metre sprinters who switched to the 100 or 200 later and were good? K, thx bai.