Introduction

One of the most common coaching cues in sprinting is:

"Relax."

The problem?

Nobody explains what that actually means.

Many athletes hear:

"Relax"

and accidentally slow down.

Others hear:

"Relax"

and continue running tight, tense, and inefficient.

The truth is:

Relaxation is a skill.

And like any sprint skill, it can be trained.

What Sprint Relaxation Actually Is

Relaxation is:

The ability to contract muscles only when necessary and relax them when they are no longer needed.

Think of sprinting like a series of on/off switches.

The best sprinters in the world are incredibly aggressive during force application.