Why is speeding up at end of race called "a kick"?

SWEEP THE LEG

I love the creative explanations.

The term actually came from horse racing, where the jockey would actually kick his feet/legs into the sides of the horse he was riding to drive his horse into a final sprint coming down the final stretch.

This technique was only used for the final push since it pushed the horse enough to not be sustainable for the entire race.

This technique was only used for the final push since it pushed the horse enough to not be sustainable for the entire race.[/quote]

Didn't they have a whip?

Butterlies taste with their feet. When they sense the flower is right they 'kick' to release the nectar, pollen is released at the same time. Galen knows all about this

obvious, really wrote:

It's for the same reason that a kick is also called "dropping the hammer". Just like "dropping the hammer" involves dropping the real hammer you've been carrying, getting lighter, and running faster, "kicking" refers to kicking your competitor in the face with your vigorous leg carriage.

Extra points if you can drop (or throw) the hammer at your opponent.

I've often wondered-do any Letsrun posters have stories of how they dropped the hammer and surprised their rivals at the end of a race?

Actually, dropping the hammer is a NASCAR term. When you move into your highest gear you pull the gear shift down. Gear shift = hammer, pull down = drop. Just watch "Days of Thunder" the classic Tom Cruise movie that inspired Talladega Nights.

El Jefe wrote:

I always thought that "dropping the hammer" meant like crushing them bc youre dropping the hammer on them and crushing them. because it is in other sports like mma

big loser no contest wrote:

WakeuplilSuzy wrote:

Why is any particular word used to define something?

Exactly. Why is running called running? Why is a tree called a tree?

Frog? Thats a funny word. I would have called it a chuzzwuzza.

I believe it derives from the "kicks" used in Inception to snap the dreamer back to reality.

calling it a 'slug' just didn't sound right.

WakeuplilSuzy wrote:

Why is any particular word used to define something?

^This is exactly wrong. The point is that the word "kick" was originally used with an entirely different meaning and then applied to racing. This meaning is an add on, hence the OP's question.

UCI XC wrote:

The word is used in a lot of metaphorical ways to refer to something that has an abrupt and powerful effect. A strong drink has "a kick to it." A rifle "kicks" forcefully back at you when you fire it. The situation can even be non-physical: an unexpected and impressive end to a story can be called "the kicker." A quick shift to a faster, more energetic kind of running is another parallel.

This is actually great insight. Thanks.

hannsen wrote:

big loser no contest wrote:

Exactly. Why is running called running? Why is a tree called a tree?

Frog? Thats a funny word. I would have called it a chuzzwuzza.

what the hell is the southern hemisphere?

I've always envisioned it relating to the song "Kick Drum Heart" by The Avett Brothers. "My, my heart like a kick drum" can serve as an analogy to how fast and hard one's heart may be beating (like the thudding of a kick drum) at/during this final stretch of the race.

"Kick" is, if you re-arrange the letters, also spells out "KKic." There is only one letter missing, then - another K.

With all the component parts attached, we thus have: KKKic.

The KKK were a bigoted, ineffectual people. In time people wished to kick them, such was the people's disfavor for them. At the end of races, you thought of the grave injustices committed by the aforesaid group, and wished to speedily end your 5k so you could kick them into oblivion.

Note: The addendum "ic" is added to express the 'yick' uttered by every feeling, rational individual.

QED.

454545 wrote:

WakeuplilSuzy wrote:

Why is any particular word used to define something?

^This is exactly wrong. The point is that the word "kick" was originally used with an entirely different meaning and then applied to racing. This meaning is an add on, hence the OP's question.

So assuming it's an add on word like you claim then why does that change anything about what was asked by the op and how I replied?

Now go run and hide little boy.

Impending Choke wrote:

Actually, dropping the hammer is a NASCAR term. When you move into your highest gear you pull the gear shift down. Gear shift = hammer, pull down = drop. Just watch "Days of Thunder" the classic Tom Cruise movie that inspired Talladega Nights.

El Jefe wrote:

I always thought that "dropping the hammer" meant like crushing them bc youre dropping the hammer on them and crushing them. because it is in other sports like mma

No, this comes from German 'Das ist Hammer'meaning really awesome

I think Mike Rice said it best:

"In the old days coaches would actually kick a runner in the butt to get them to run faster. Apparently that is not allowed in today's world."

El Jefe wrote:

I always thought that "dropping the hammer" meant like crushing them bc youre dropping the hammer on them and crushing them. because it is in other sports like mma

Impending Choke wrote:

Actually, dropping the hammer is a NASCAR term. When you move into your highest gear you pull the gear shift down. Gear shift = hammer, pull down = drop. Just watch "Days of Thunder" the classic Tom Cruise movie that inspired Talladega Nights.

wrong, wrong, wrong. The hammer is Mjölnir, and when you drop it, or more properly throw it, you're generating explosive, thunderous power, like Thor.

hahalol wrote:

I love the creative explanations.

The term actually came from horse racing, where the jockey would actually kick his feet/legs into the sides of the horse he was riding to drive his horse into a final sprint coming down the final stretch.

This technique was only used for the final push since it pushed the horse enough to not be sustainable for the entire race.

I think it stems more from the phrase "to kick into [high] gear," where the "kick" is the force of changing the gear.

fastwhite wrote:

Because 'punch' doesn't seem right.

I heard someone just the other day say, "Boy, his kick sure packs a punch!" Sounded right at the time.