Sprinting and speed training provide athletes great exercise methods. Both assist in the fat loss process, along with building muscles too difficult to target through other training methods.

Sprinting, a simple form of speed training exercise, offers more than just calorie burning. Certain enzymes become abundant within the body each time sprinting occurs. These enzymes, along with normal cell functions, help the body store more calories and energy within the muscle tissue rather than the fat storages within the body. Through this process, the body steadily depletes all of its fat storages that normally account for weight gain.

Sprinting also increases the amount of impact training involved in a workout regimen. The high level of impact involved in sprinting increases bone strength and density. Impact exercises also aid the building of new muscle tissue around the bones and throughout the rest of the body.

Sprinting naturally increases the body's endurance strength, making longer cardio and muscle strengthening training sessions easier to complete. Through sprinting and speed training exercises, the body increases its ability to store oxygen, which helps the muscles function in all forms of exercise.

Another benefit directly related to sprinting involves the increase in mitochondria size. These cell parts store the energy consumed through food sources, then release the energy to the parts of the body that require and endure work or repair. In other words, working muscles receive more energy, because cells become better suited to store and release energy in an efficient manner, ultimately increasing growth.

Speed training involves the increase in muscle power through both speed in starting and stopping function. Each exercise becomes easier with an explosive force behind each repetition, making speed training ideal for power lifters and athletes who run and perform agile movements.

The form of exercise increases agility and speed in movement and exercise technique. The power and fast twitch muscle ability increase over time as well. Several exercises in speed training involve the addition of weighted resistance or speed enhancers to force fast twitch muscles into overdrive, past the normal point of exertion that normal exercises cause.

Speed training increases the athlete's ability to perform as well. Through exercises like sprinting and agility drills involving jumping, skipping or hopping motions, athletes gain experience and muscle memory in motions and exercises that take place during game and practice situations.

Regardless of the physical fitness goal, any athlete or physically active person becomes better able to grow and strengthen through the implantation of speed training activities like sprinting. Nearly every exercise related to speed training involves the addition of muscle power and strength through special technique and proper form. For example, resistance bands help improve form and maximum strength in the bench press lift.

Try adding a sprinting portion to the beginning or end of each workout routine, and evaluate the benefits over a period of time. Sprinting does not require much room, and speed training exercise works both indoors and outside.