Story By Athlete - Neva Jansen
The science of speed in athletics is one of the most important areas to understand if you want to improve performance. Speed is a key part of every athletics event, and the type of speed you have can make you better suited to different events. As a Year 12 science student and a former PE GCSE student, I find it really interesting to understand how our bodies work and how we can train them to perform better.
Science of Speed in Athletics: Two Main Components
Many factors contribute to speed, but in the science of speed in athletics, the two most important are muscle fibres and neural activation.
Science of Speed in Athletics: Muscle Fibres
To keep it simple, your body has two main types of muscle fibres: slow-twitch and fast-twitch.
Slow-twitch muscle fibres respire aerobically and contract more slowly, making them ideal for endurance and high-fatigue events like middle-distance running, as they allow you to maintain a steady pace for a long period of time. These are known as type I muscle fibres and are essential for athletes who need sustained speed over longer distances.
Fast-twitch muscle fibres contract much quicker and are better suited to short, powerful movements. In the science of speed in athletics, these fibres are key for sprinting and power-based events.
There are two types of fast-twitch fibres: type IIa and type IIx. Type IIx fibres contract the fastest but fatigue quickly, making them ideal for short bursts of speed and power, such as driving across the circle in discus. In contrast, Type IIa fibres contract slightly more slowly but are more fatigue-resistant. This allows athletes to maintain speed for longer periods, which is particularly useful in events like the 100m.
Science of Speed in Athletics: Muscle Fibre Composition
Everyone has a different mix of muscle fibres. In the science of speed in athletics, this helps explain why some athletes are naturally suited to endurance events, while others are suited to sprinting or power events.
However, muscle fibre composition does not limit you to one sport. Training can improve how your fibres perform, increase their size, and make them more efficient.
It can also help shift type IIx fibres to type IIa, which is beneficial for many speed and power events, and it shows that while genetics play a role, the science of speed in athletics proves that training is what allows you to develop and maximise your speed.
Science of Speed in Athletics: Neural Activation
Neural activation also plays a major role in the science of speed in athletics. It describes how effectively your nervous system activates your muscles to produce force and movement.
The better your neural activation, the faster your muscles can contract, the more force you can produce, and the better your coordination becomes. That is why warming up properly is important: it prepares your body to move efficiently.
Sprint work, plyometrics, and consistent speed training all improve neural activation. Over time, this leads to clear improvements in speed and performance.
Final Thoughts
The science of speed in athletics shows that performance is not just about talent. It is about understanding how your body works and training it effectively.
By understanding muscle fibres and neural activation, you can see how your training improves your speed and helps you perform at a higher level.
