Does it make sense to run the 100m dash holding your breath?

Question

I know that some sprinting greats did this, and I was wondering if there's any benefit to it.

Answer 1

I don't think breathing slows you down any, and I don't think not breathing would speed you up either. I think you should just breath because that sounds awfully hard and just weird to run the 100 without breathing. You need oxygen. It's your body's only source of power when you run. It should make you go faster to breath it in, than not to.

Answer 2

--I really never heard of that! I doubt that anyone can do that, without breathing and your lungs & muscles cry out for more oxogen as your distant increases even for 10 seconds.

As a former still rings champion, I sometimes thought I was not breathing because I was concentrating on each of my moves, BUT I would have blacked out if I did not breath. My routine took about 20-30 seconds , although I never timed it.


--They may have controlled breathing , but physiologically it does not make sense. They may not realize they are breathing because they are greatly consentrating on their sprint.

--I REALLY DON'T THINK its a good idea to try training like that

Answer 3

no. when breathing oxygen goes to your muscles to help them breathe also, so by not breathing you will tire easy and wont have the best sprint

Answer 4

i do hold my breath, its just one thing less to worry about. right now my 100m time is 16 seconds so i dont know if that helps or not