Why can't I kick?

Training Advice/Discussion 5k/10k

8 years ago 07/30/2015 8:55am EDT

At the ends of races when I kick hard I often feel extremely nauseous and occasionally start dry heaving and end up having to slow back down. This has been going on a decent portion of the time for a while and now I'm really hesitant kick unless there's someone right in front or behind me. Back when I was running XC I would push through this a lot of the time and ended up "getting sick" at the finish but being more of a hobby jogger now I don't really want to do that at local 5Ks.

I don't think foods an issue, I've pretty much eaten a bagel with cashew butter/ cream cheese/ butter before morning runs forever and I never have any issues. I'm also pretty resistant to food problems in general I've had plenty of weird stuff before runs before with very few issues.

Very rarely had issues on track or other speed workouts.

Do you guys have any recommendations? I think I normally just go from 5k pace to sprinting right away, is it better to slowly accelerate?

8 years ago 07/30/2015 8:59am EDT

re: Bad__Runner__

8 years ago 07/30/2015 9:04am EDT

re: Bad__Runner__

You have to do workouts where you will suffer from acidosis so your body is used to it when you increase the intensity at the end of races. If I race after only having done tempos and longer, slower repeats I suffer from the same problem.

8 years ago 07/30/2015 9:17am EDT

re: eh,.

In order to "kick" or accelerate efficiently (w/o global distruption to other systems in your body) you need to have strong calves as, as higher speeds, you're calves/Achilles act like a "pogo-stick spring" to:

1. conserve up to 30% of impact force

2. use that impact force to propel you forward

You can find an infographic on this and some scientific references here:

http://www.practicallyscience.com/the-impact-of-running/

Generally: speed work, plyometrics and occasional fore-foot running will help build up this strength so it feels more "natural" to kick.

8 years ago 07/30/2015 9:44am EDT

re: Bad__Runner__

Thanks for the info! That link was good. Still seems weird how much it happened back when I was in XC and doing speed workouts twice a week and racing once a week. I guess there probably wasn't enough 100s and 200s we mostly focused on 400 up.

Would it be bad to end training runs with a kick? Or with like 2000 m left mimic the last 400 of a race and then have a mile to cool down?

8 years ago 07/30/2015 9:59am EDT

re: Bad__Runner__

Small feet?

Oh wait, that might be swimming.

8 years ago 07/30/2015 11:09am EDT

re: Big foot123

Steve Magness has some good posts (about 6 or 7 total) on his blog on how to develop a good kick. Here are some of them:

http://www.scienceofrunning.com/search/label/Kick%20Development

8 years ago 07/30/2015 11:40am EDT

re: Bad__Runner__

run faster in training?

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