Can a person be both a distance runner and sprinter at the same time?

I just was curious to see what you have to say to that. I wanted to ask this question in the first place because I wanted to know if it would be a good idea to do xc even though I am a mid-distance sprinter.|||There is nothing preventing someone from doing both, and doing them well. XC is about training, stamina, and strategy, nothing in there about being slow! Sprinting is about speed and explosiveness, but you've still got to be in shape to practice hard, and that's where the stamina from XC comes in!





I ran XC with kids who did sprinting and hurdles in spring track. XC and sprinting compliment each other well. Sprinters often have stamina problems, which XC solves. Distance runners usually find that building speed is the hardest part of their training, but if you're already fast that's half the battle!|||Running cross country in the fall is great off-season training for preparing for middle distance sprinting come spring. It helps solidify your endurance and cardio base.





Just make sure you adjust your training as soon as XC season ends, and start shifting more to speed training.





Good luck.|||well the first guy is abviuosly has the better answer but if you wer going long distance i know that it is good for you even if you are a sprinter.








and by the way im srry about not replying to all your e-mails because it wont let me send my e-mail to anyone so thats why im not sending you any replys or sending you anything.so that is why...





cya and i know that i didnt give you a good answer but i answered it mostly because of the e-mail thing...|||Yeah. I am a sprinter and I also do Cross Country. It was hard at the beginning, but it was a lot of fun! Go for it. When the season is over you can start training for Track (that's what I'm doing! :) ) |||YES! I am talking out of personal experience. I run the 800m and in the off season I do cross country. It is the best way to get fit in so many ways. Cross country will train your body in other places that you don`t usually train in flat track running and most of all it will make you tough! And you know how important that is.





There is no such thing as a sprinter does not have to do long distance running, and there is no such thing as a long distance athlete does not have to do sprints!! You should do both in both occasions. The better you are conditioned OVERALL the better.





Go for it, and good luck!!|||yeah definately. people on my cross team were also sprinters but they did cross country to get in shape. i'm actually kinda a distance runner and sprinter because i did cross country but i'm good at sprints, i wish i was doing sprint right now but they stuck me in distance. so yeah i think you should do xc cause it would build your endurance and make you a better sprinter. it's also so cool to see the different courses.