how improve stride length and turnover

running more

Not to be too sarcastic, but I think that improving stride length and turnover is the basic goal and effect of all training.

run more quick runs

For sprinting, you're on the right track. For distance running, you have to be in good shape to maintain stride length and turnover, but you should also note that many times it's slowing down due to fatigue that shortens the stride and reduces turn over. If your cardiovascular fitness is low, you cannot run with a long stride with a quick turnover for any length of time because you with get too tired.

stride length - sprint up steep hills/bound up steep hills

turnover - sprint down very steep hills while moving your legs as fast as you can

dont confuse stride length too much with being flexible. stride length is more about how far forward you can propel yourself with each step and not how far you can split your legs apart (i.e. - stride length is about the strength of your pushoff)

seeing as stride length and turnover are the only two things that directly affect running speed....it seems like you should train.....you'll get faster

by saying that you are bad at those two things....pretty much you're saying you suck at running

[quote]woo buddy wrote:

turnover - sprint down very steep hills while moving your legs as fast as you can

quote]

Maybe the poster meant sprint down slight down hills. I don't think that it's humanly possible for anyone to sprint down a very steep hill without full body protection and an ambulance standing by.

As said before training itself will overtime improve stride efficiency. However, I have found that practicing stride lengths during intervals and tempo runs expedites improvement.

Also, plyometrics have seemed to help me too. It seems that I use less and less energy to propel myself forward at longer stride lengths.

xlev2 wrote:

after seeing some videotape of my running this is a major shortcoming. what are the best methodologies for improving this? simple stretching, plyometrics, rapid turnover drills, etc???

Are you saying you want to get better?

Run uphill for strength, run downhill for (faster than you're used to) turnover, run on flat for improved stride length and turnover. Yes, this is dangerous for many reasons but, it is doable.

Your pace is determined by how much ground you cover with each stride and how often you take those strides. So you are basically asking, "how do I become a faster runner."

That is the great mystery of life, but I believe Runner's World sells a book called Run Less Run Faster, maybe you could start there.

Google "Myrtle" video by coach Jay Johnson. That's good sh!t.

Let me save you the trouble:

http://www.runnerspace.com/video.php?do=view&video_id=8190#ooid=Rxc2o3OhkvQvaEru5pdFwSfFz0T4lvQv