I don't really do "wind sprints" anymore but when training for long races, there are days when I do "intervals" which are sort of the same thing. Short periods of time sprinting, filled in with longer periods of time running at easy pace. The idea is to build up your max speed on those days, so that as your endurance builds up on the "long run" days, the combination of the training methods will get you faster for the longer races.
I'm currently training for a half-marathon in January. I've run this distance before, when (over-)training for 10-milers, but I've never done it for an officially timed event. Should be a lot of fun.
10 years back I thought that I'd someday run a marathon. At this point, I don't think it's realistic, but I do really love being able to just go out and run a 10K on any day I feel like it.