Bad Wigins wrote:
If you look at the Lausanne finish, you'll see Jakob covered the last 10.6 seconds in 38 steps, for a cadence of about 3.6. Girma's last 37 steps took him 11.5 seconds, a cadence of only 3.2 - barely faster than the normal 3.0 for the earlier portions of a mile + distance race.
Kerr's last 38 steps took 11.6 seconds, also a 3.2 cadence. These guys have the same problem Jakob used to have - stuck in distance loping mode. Jakob has indeed fixed his kick.
Not everyone accelerates (kicks) the same way. Some maintain cadence and increase stride length, some maintain stride length and increase cadence, and some increase both, but too a lesser degree.
Generally, a runner who is a faster strider through the main body of the race will lengthen, while a long-striding runner will increase cadence.