Running with a speed parachute can be a breakthrough for athletes who have hit a plateau in their training program. The parachutes are strapped to an athlete's chest and billow out behind them when running, adding wind resistance and making the muscles work harder. Some versions of the parachute have a quick release handle, allowing the athlete to release the chute mid-sprint, providing an exhilarating psychological feeling as well as a physical release.

Training

Many types of athletes can incorporate speed parachutes into their sprint training, including basketball players, figure skaters, cross country runners and relay racers. The parachutes are lightweight and easy to transport, making them a convenient tool to use during practice. Runners do not require assistance to use these chutes, only enough space to allow the chute to stretch out behind them. Begin by doing five to ten interval sprints while wearing the parachute. Depending on the type of event you are training for, keep your sprints to around 100 to 200 meters long. Cross-country runners may want to focus on 200-meter sprints, while short-distance sprinters will work with 100-meter sprints. The longer your sprinting distance, the fewer intervals you should run. Run your planned distance, walk back to the starting line and sprint again. Remove the parachute and do another five to ten intervals. You should notice an improvement in your speed, now that the parachute is not slowing you down. Alternatively, if you have a chute with a quick-release feature, do five to ten sprints with the chute, but release it halfway through your run. Do two sets of intervals.

Research

Exercise physiologist Matthew Taylor trained with 14 high school sprinters, half of whom used speed parachutes during practice. All of the sprinters practiced four times a week for six weeks. For two days each week, the entire group went through a similar training program without the use of speed chutes. For the remaining two days, the chute runners ran 200-meter sprints with a parachute for the first half of the distance, while the non-chute runners ran the 200-meter sprints on their own. These distances were slightly modified toward the end of the training period, but the results showed that both groups of runners improved their race times in a similar manner. Taylor's findings indicate that while speed parachutes do not hinder training, they do not necessarily add any special benefits. The primary appeal of speed parachutes may be their novelty value, because they can be a good way to add variety to routine training programs, challenging athletes to do things differently.

Source:

Vertical Jumping - Sprint Training

PP Online - Speed Parachutes

Jumping Higher - Working Out With Speed Parachutes