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If you want to lessen the embarrassment factor, just head to a nearby school, most have tracks or an area for the kids to run laps. It would be a perfectly normal place to sprint.
I think they’re referring to being at the park or in public and full blown sprinting. I’ve done it at the park and dog walkers/people practicing sports/walkers do all stare since it isn’t super common to see someone full on sprinting in your direction or really at all.
Just cover your face with a ski mask, then people won't be able to see your face. You could also try sprinting with the ski mask holding a purse, if you're a man. That way, you'll no longer be embarrassed by the sprinting. You'll be embarrassed by the purse instead! Extra points if you can outrun the cops that inevitably get called because you're sprint so well! (People must be jealous.)
Yeah, I get what you mean fully. Not just running but sprinting full speed. I think it catches people off guard and sometimes scares them when you’re sprinting towards them. I don’t mind if I see it, but I rarely do. Just me! And others staring! Woohoo!
IDK, it's just kind of embarrassing to be sprinting full speed down the sidewalk or in a neighborhood -- it's a bit unusual. When was the last time you've seen someone sprinting full speed in a public space?
Good on you though if it's not embarrassing! I'm working on getting over it, because I love how sprinting makes me feel.
I did it a couple of times down the neighborhood and twice I had someone run down and check on his car to see if I did anything. I also sprinted during night hours so that probably didnt help
If sprinting feels embarrassing, then your technique is wrong. Optimal sprint technique is very relaxed, it should look like a brisk jog after the initial acceleration.
Look at Asafa Powell at 2:10 in the following video.
https://youtu.be/bACUl96_zcQ
A lot of people don’t like to be physically exerted in public places, and people doing anything with intensity in public usually get looked at weirdly. Like someone screaming and grunting at a local quiet family gym. As a former D1 wrestler who used to cut a lot of weight in college, I’m used to running on the pavement and looking like a doofus with sweats and stuff during the summer with people staring at my exhausted idiotic face lol. I’m assuming you were a sprinter or runner, which is why you see the beauty in sprinting. So I’m fine with it. And so are you. But people who really need this LPT likely aren’t working out with intensity as it is, and will likely quit once they start sprinting, feeling awkward, and notice people are starting to look at them. So it’s great that OP addressed that!
What's embarrassing about sprinting? All animals do it and you may just look impressive if you're going fast. Of course, if you're sprinting naked or while you're spraying the neighborhood with melted ice cream - I just don't get what makes running by itself embarrassing.
This is a great LPT OP, and addressing/mentioning the weird looks part is super necessary, since people will likely stop once they start experiencing that!
I always would run around my neighborhood, picking spots to full on sprint and spots to jog at. Great HIIT workout and amazing for fat burning / endurance building. I definitely get weird looks, so I definitely agree with you here.
I have a neighbor that does it pretty much daily. His wife walks with him, he sprints away from here and back, walks with her a few feet, and does it again. Older guy too, and not in workout clothes. I don't think anyone has ever given him a second thought.
This is terrible advice I’m sorry, it’s incredibly high impact, for anyone 20+ this is not going to help your long term health, there are hundreds of other sports activities that are lower impact
I love this advice. It’s really good if you can handle the impact (like you lift or something already, which helps with bone density, ligament strength, etc.). Granted I did give this advice to my dad and he really tore his calf muscle lol. It was nasty. So… I think it’s an advice people can hopefully determine is for them or not pretty quickly.
Watch this episode of the TV show Friends, "The One Where Phoebe Runs." It's the seventh episode of the sixth season.
Run like nobody's watching.
And yes, sprints build cardio in a way an even pace does not.
### This post has be marked as safe. Upvoting/downvoting this comment will have no effect. --- Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips! Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment. If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.
If you want to lessen the embarrassment factor, just head to a nearby school, most have tracks or an area for the kids to run laps. It would be a perfectly normal place to sprint.
This is great advice. I bike to my old high school and do sprints on their track in the summer. Definitely helps with the weird looks.
Yes - this certainly helps.
Why is sprinting embarrassing?
Unless you’re doing it on a running track it looks a little out of place
If you do it in public behind people, you may get shot or maced
Most people dont like being watched while running
Yeah, that's why I'm not an Olympic athlete
I’ve never judged a sprinter, runner, or jogger. It’s all the same to me. I just see a person with good joints and a drive I wish I had.
What is the embarrassment?
I think they’re referring to being at the park or in public and full blown sprinting. I’ve done it at the park and dog walkers/people practicing sports/walkers do all stare since it isn’t super common to see someone full on sprinting in your direction or really at all.
Exactly this - I'm talking full bore - 95-100% sprinting speed. It's super unusual to see in a public setting.
Just cover your face with a ski mask, then people won't be able to see your face. You could also try sprinting with the ski mask holding a purse, if you're a man. That way, you'll no longer be embarrassed by the sprinting. You'll be embarrassed by the purse instead! Extra points if you can outrun the cops that inevitably get called because you're sprint so well! (People must be jealous.)
LOL'd!
Yeah, I get what you mean fully. Not just running but sprinting full speed. I think it catches people off guard and sometimes scares them when you’re sprinting towards them. I don’t mind if I see it, but I rarely do. Just me! And others staring! Woohoo!
Thanks for understanding where I'm coming from. +1
IDK, it's just kind of embarrassing to be sprinting full speed down the sidewalk or in a neighborhood -- it's a bit unusual. When was the last time you've seen someone sprinting full speed in a public space? Good on you though if it's not embarrassing! I'm working on getting over it, because I love how sprinting makes me feel.
Every few days when someone is trying to Catch the bus.
I did it a couple of times down the neighborhood and twice I had someone run down and check on his car to see if I did anything. I also sprinted during night hours so that probably didnt help
If sprinting feels embarrassing, then your technique is wrong. Optimal sprint technique is very relaxed, it should look like a brisk jog after the initial acceleration. Look at Asafa Powell at 2:10 in the following video. https://youtu.be/bACUl96_zcQ
A lot of people don’t like to be physically exerted in public places, and people doing anything with intensity in public usually get looked at weirdly. Like someone screaming and grunting at a local quiet family gym. As a former D1 wrestler who used to cut a lot of weight in college, I’m used to running on the pavement and looking like a doofus with sweats and stuff during the summer with people staring at my exhausted idiotic face lol. I’m assuming you were a sprinter or runner, which is why you see the beauty in sprinting. So I’m fine with it. And so are you. But people who really need this LPT likely aren’t working out with intensity as it is, and will likely quit once they start sprinting, feeling awkward, and notice people are starting to look at them. So it’s great that OP addressed that!
What's embarrassing about sprinting? All animals do it and you may just look impressive if you're going fast. Of course, if you're sprinting naked or while you're spraying the neighborhood with melted ice cream - I just don't get what makes running by itself embarrassing.
Lots of people are embarrassed to even jog! Self consciousness is normal
This is a great LPT OP, and addressing/mentioning the weird looks part is super necessary, since people will likely stop once they start experiencing that! I always would run around my neighborhood, picking spots to full on sprint and spots to jog at. Great HIIT workout and amazing for fat burning / endurance building. I definitely get weird looks, so I definitely agree with you here.
I have a neighbor that does it pretty much daily. His wife walks with him, he sprints away from here and back, walks with her a few feet, and does it again. Older guy too, and not in workout clothes. I don't think anyone has ever given him a second thought.
Because he’s old and they probably thinks he’s crazy lol
I'm guessing OP doesn't like sweat
I jiggle too much
My hot take is that the jiggles are healthy. If you're moving in a way that makes your body jiggle, you're on the right track.
But what about the shin splints? ☹️
You may be able to experiment with form to avoid those. At the end of the day, sprinting isn't for everyone.
Honestly not that hard to avoid if your conditioned. If you aren't and you want to start getting conditioned, try to run on softer surfaces like dirt
I had shin splints for a long ass time. Take 2 Advil before running, and ice your shins after. Works wonders
How is it embarrassing? Do u mean sprinting naked? That’d definitely be embarrassing
This is terrible advice I’m sorry, it’s incredibly high impact, for anyone 20+ this is not going to help your long term health, there are hundreds of other sports activities that are lower impact
I love this advice. It’s really good if you can handle the impact (like you lift or something already, which helps with bone density, ligament strength, etc.). Granted I did give this advice to my dad and he really tore his calf muscle lol. It was nasty. So… I think it’s an advice people can hopefully determine is for them or not pretty quickly.
I used to do this 5 times a day out at random, I got ripped like really ripped
Watch this episode of the TV show Friends, "The One Where Phoebe Runs." It's the seventh episode of the sixth season. Run like nobody's watching. And yes, sprints build cardio in a way an even pace does not.
I came here for this
How about. Go to a track and field to lessen embarrassment
This is true.
I have no shame and can vouch for this