Whether you are a top level sprinter or an amateur who is keen to improve your personal best on the race track, you are likely to have considered taking creatine to improve your performance.
The sports supplement has been the subject of a huge number of academic discussions and research papers, with many arguing its benefits for athletes. While the scientific case is by no means closed, sufficient evidence has been collated to show that creatine may be capable of giving people that extra boost they require to cross the finishing line first.
Between superstitions, traditions and confidence levels, there are all sorts of peculiar methods that athletes employ to deliver their best performance, but let’s look at the reasons why creatine could be a logical way for sprinters to be the best they can be.
What does it do?
In the human body, creatine is naturally produced in the kidneys and liver. It occurs in the vertebrates and essentially provides muscles with energy by forming Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which must be replenished if a person is to exert themselves on a regular basis.
While creatine was identified in the 19th century, it was not until the late 20th century when its potential as a sports supplement became apparent. What scientists aimed to do was increase the stored levels of creatine in the body, so that athletes perform better for longer.
How can this help my sprinting?
Creatine is used by a huge variety of athletes, but the general consensus is that it is most beneficial in sports where short, sharp bursts of energy are required - a category that sprinting fits perfectly into.
What most scientists have found is that creatine can help boost performance levels for many competitors in the opening seconds of exertion and there are a significant number of reports suggesting recovery time is also improved.
As a sprinter in training, the possibility of cutting the amount of time it takes your body to recover between races is obviously hugely valuable, while there is no telling how much of a difference a very slight increase in pace could have in a competition.