Any benefit from sprinting last no. of metres in training?

darkvalley

Hi all

I train on the race course in Sligo. Towards the end of the lap you go uphill and then from the top of the hill it is about 3-400 metres to the gate or finish of the lap. I tend to put on a spurt here if it is the last lap of my training.

Is there any benefit to this?

MaroonTam

I don't know the science, but mentally I feel better if I finish a session stronger.

I always find my last interval in a set is the fastest of the night. I justify it with "well I might need a sprint finish in a race, so train for it at the point where I am tired - the end of a session"

However, I am willing to accept that science might prove this to do more damage than good...

darkvalley

Thanks for the reply
i'm only a beginner myself, so have not got a clue, it just seemed the right thing to do. However I go from breathing heavily to coughing up a lung in these few yards and often wonder to myself why I do it?! I'm only running to get fit and the odd race for interest sake, no real interest in beating someone else.(unless I could of course;))
regards
Finbarr