What the hell is a rhythm runner?

BS made up by one troll that caught on. Running is just running.

fat_fgt wrote:

BS made up by one troll that caught on. Running is just running.

Idiot.

OP, here's everything you want to know about rhythm runs/easy tempos/steady state/progression runs or whatever you want to call them:

recognizer of cluelessness wrote:

fat_fgt wrote:

BS made up by one troll that caught on. Running is just running.

Idiot.

OP, here's everything you want to know about rhythm runs/easy tempos/steady state/progression runs or whatever you want to call them:

http://www.runnersworld.com/workouts/why-rhythm-runs-rule

Thanks, but I'm actually referring specifically to the concept of a "rhythm runner". If you do a forum search you'll find it in several threads but without definition, not even from context. Apparently it's someone who's better at track than cross...okay, but then other threads have it as someone who can't muster a kick or pick up the pace.

So, my question stands: what the hell is a rhythm runner?

Plays the rhythm guitar?

Probably someone who is better at keeping their rhythm at a certain pace but struggles with quick change of pace. These people probably do lots of training at LT pace. Think ritz. If you watched the world champ 10ks he was in he would get gapped by the pack by surges and slowly make his way back. Great at TT efforts though with even splits. I also think Tadese was a great rhythm runner. Coincidentally they were both great half marathoners which happens to be right around your LT pace. That's my understanding of it with no definition given to me.

This is a rhythm runner:

http://theulsterfry.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/election_marathon2.jpg

Other options wrote:

Probably someone who is better at keeping their rhythm at a certain pace but struggles with quick change of pace. These people probably do lots of training at LT pace. Think ritz. If you watched the world champ 10ks he was in he would get gapped by the pack by surges and slowly make his way back. Great at TT efforts though with even splits. I also think Tadese was a great rhythm runner. Coincidentally they were both great half marathoners which happens to be right around your LT pace. That's my understanding of it with no definition given to me.

This sums it up well.

I didn't ever realize this was a confusing term; I thought it was pretty self explanatory to anyone who knows what "rhythm" is. OP you knew a "rhythm runner" would be better at track than XC and still couldn't figure it out? Because in an evenly paced track race or flat road course, you run to a "rhythm" where as in XC your pace speeds up and slows down with varying hills/terrain. Same thing for a tactical track race with lots of surges.

beat it wrote:

This is a rhythm runner:

http://theulsterfry.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/election_marathon2.jpg

LOL

someone who uses music to help keep a steady pace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQstQST1GiM&list=RDbQstQST1GiM#t=6

I've been thinking the inability to adjust to interruptions in rhythm might have something to do with stride rate. Watching the WC steeple this year I couldn't help but think that Jager's loping stride is the reason why he got left in the dust by the Kenyans, who had a much quicker cadence, at the end. I'm thinking it is easier to change gears quickly when you are using a quicker stride rate at all paces.

This isn't based on anything I've found physiologically. Just a hunch.

It is a runner who uses that particular method of birth control. Sarah Bowman for example.

While I don't entirely disagree with the general point here, I think it needs to be recognized that both Ritz and Tadese have had great success in XC. Chris Derrick is another one who seems to be a "rhythm runner" but also runs well in XC.

runthecountry wrote:

Not Cool Bro wrote:

This sums it up well.

I didn't ever realize this was a confusing term; I thought it was pretty self explanatory to anyone who knows what "rhythm" is. OP you knew a "rhythm runner" would be better at track than XC and still couldn't figure it out? Because in an evenly paced track race or flat road course, you run to a "rhythm" where as in XC your pace speeds up and slows down with varying hills/terrain. Same thing for a tactical track race with lots of surges.

While I don't entirely disagree with the general point here, I think it needs to be recognized that both Ritz and Tadese have had great success in XC. Chris Derrick is another one who seems to be a "rhythm runner" but also runs well in XC.

Correct. I never said rhythm runners were not good at xc. In fact most are better at xc than track as track actually has more gear changes.

Rhythm runners are those that do well on courses or in races in which they can run steady paces with gradual pace increases, and likely do so in a pack. Essentially they zone out and just run smoothly. Rhythm runners would do poorly on courses with rough footing, many sharp turns, steep grades and physical races that forces a runner to change your stride.

I would expect a rhythm runner to more often be a heel-toe runner and excel in the 5 - 10k rather than middle distance races.

runthecountry wrote:

While I don't entirely disagree with the general point here, I think it needs to be recognized that both Ritz and Tadese have had great success in XC. Chris Derrick is another one who seems to be a "rhythm runner" but also runs well in XC.

Good point -- I think the concept of "rhythm runner" is a good one, but the details definitely get complicated. To me, Ritz's success in XC suggests he's not a rhythm runner -- his tendency to maintain an even pace in big track and road races may just reflect the fact that he's smart (and thus running efficiently) or doesn't have much anaerobic reserve to be able to respond to surges and recover. When Ritz won his medal at World XC as a junior in Belgium, the conditions were just atrocious. I ran in the senior race that day, and found it almost impossible to maintain any sort of decent pace because I kept having to brake to get around sharp slippery corners or being brought to a near-halt by huge sucking mud pits. The people who ran well that day were those were able to quickly reaccelerate over and over again after these constant interruptions. The people who ran like crap (i.e. me) tend to blame it on the fact that they're "rhythm runners" -- they can maintain a hard steady pace, but struggle with having to constantly readjust.

I think there's probably some underlying physiology that pushes you toward one camp or the other -- maybe stride length (as someone above suggested), vertical oscillation, running economy... But I also think a lot of it is mental.

FitzyXC wrote:

I've been thinking the inability to adjust to interruptions in rhythm might have something to do with stride rate. ... I'm thinking it is easier to change gears quickly when you are using a quicker stride rate at all paces.

I recall watching to runners at our local university warming up for a cross-country meet. One had a long smooth stride and excelled on the track. The other had a shorter, quicker stride, almost choppy, and would crush the first guy at the same distance in cross country. Not sure if either was a rhythm runner, though I'd suspect runner #1 would be closer.

"While I don't entirely disagree with the general point here, I think it needs to be recognized that both Ritz and Tadese have had great success in XC. Chris Derrick is another one who seems to be a "rhythm runner" but also runs well in XC."

Immediately thought of the late Pat Porter when I saw the question in the subject of this thread.

rhythm runner can do well in both cross country and track, because many cross country courses have long straight portions and sweeping turns. The issue when you run with "rhythm" is momentum. If you excel comparatively in races where you are able to maintain your momentum over long periods of time, you are a "rhythm runner". If you excel comparatively in races that require you to slow and speed up again, or very little momentum can be maintained, you are not a "rhythm runner".

beat it wrote:

This is a rhythm runner:

http://theulsterfry.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/election_marathon2.jpg

Textbook definition. Discussion over.

Next question- is fender or ibanez the best choice for lead runners?