Are some hilly courses faster than flat courses? For instance, would some people run a mile faster going up for half and then down for the second half? What about 5k "hobby joggers" in borderline shape who tend to tank near the end. Would a downhill finish be beneficial? How about an uphill finish so their 2 mile split could be faster since they'll tank at the end anyway?
Heartland Runner wrote:
Are some hilly courses faster than flat courses? For instance, would some people run a mile faster going up for half and then down for the second half? What about 5k "hobby joggers" in borderline shape who tend to tank near the end. Would a downhill finish be beneficial? How about an uphill finish so their 2 mile split could be faster since they'll tank at the end anyway?
Yes. Boston isn't flat. It is hilly but with a net downhill and occasional tailwind and you get guys running 2+ mins faster than do anywhere else during their career.
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asdfads wrote:
Yes. Boston isn't flat. It is hilly but with a net downhill and occasional tailwind and you get guys running 2+ mins faster than do anywhere else during their career.
Interesting. Are there any hilly courses known for being particularly fast in calm winds that don't net a downhill?
Heartland Runner wrote:
I
asdfads wrote:Yes. Boston isn't flat. It is hilly but with a net downhill and occasional tailwind and you get guys running 2+ mins faster than do anywhere else during their career.
Interesting. Are there any hilly courses known for being particularly fast in calm winds that don't net a downhill?
Check this list on your own. My casual reading tells me that every course faster than a flat course is net downhill.
http://findmymarathon.com/fastestmarathoncourses.phpThere is a school of thought that says occasional very slight undulations are ideal. Varies muscle use so decreased chance of repetitive use cramps. Faster? I don't know of any studies.
Both of my sub 3's were in Boston (2:54, 2:58).
The "speed bumps" on the Nike Portland XC course (formerly NXN and Nike Pre-Nats course) seem to cause athletes to get fast times.
Jesse Owens 5k course in Alabam has 3 hills and almost everyone PR's there
Yes. It's a fundamental property of goodness. A flat course is optimal.
1) Uphill losses are bigger than downhill gains and the difference gets bigger with the grade.
2) Efficiency at higher speeds is exponentially worse, so even pace is optimal.
3) Life's worst tragedies are exponentially more painful than its highest pleasures are enjoyable.
a flat course is never faster. Without variation you can never run fast
In his long interview posted on Flotrack, Ritz says he was surprised to discover that Figueroa (the main, long street for the course) actually has an incline, and will be slower coming back than going out.
ComfyNumb wrote:
There is a school of thought that says occasional very slight undulations are ideal. Varies muscle use so decreased chance of repetitive use cramps. Faster? I don't know of any studies.
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