Tall runners: how do you train?

I do all my training in the ditch beside the road so that my head is no closer to the clouds than anyone else.

I never thought of my height as being a handicap or a reason to train differently from other guys.

SGGC,

Your Height can't be changed. Do not worry about it. You should train the same as anyone else. With smart, consistent, progressive training which allows you to reach your goals for your specific event. Good luck!

Your height can be changed! Let gravity do the work; just lean forward - you'll reduce your effective height, and be propelled at unprecedented speeds. Good day, beanpole!

And now for something completely different - a seriopus reply. I'm also 6-6, though I weigh about 15 pounds more than you. I also tend to stay away from a lot of hard intervals and definitely emphasize tempo runs and miles. But the real reason I do that is because I have a lot more speed than endurance. Maybe that just automatically comes with long legs and relative heaviness, I don't know, but I do know that I do better with more miles, more consistency, and less true speedwork.

I had a teammate who was 6'6", and he did a lot more core work than the rest of us. He felt like he needed it to compensate for his top-heaviness. He had plenty of speed, and like the others mentioned, he didn't hammer the intervals or speed sessions like the rest of us. The tempo run followed by core exercises was his bread and butter.

Jason Rexing is like 6'5"

He still kicks ass.

I believe he was the tallest runner to ever run for the Fighting Irish.

I heard they had to special order his uniform from the WWE.

I'm "only" 6-4 - maybe I should give up my moniker, but I've found that I don't recover as fast as most runners, and that I have no chance of running fast in the Southeastern summer humidity. Training and goal races are adjusted accordingly.

A_Goofy_Runner wrote:

I'm "only" 6-4 - maybe I should give up my moniker, but I've found that I don't recover as fast as most runners, and that I have no chance of running fast in the Southeastern summer humidity. Training and goal races are adjusted accordingly.

You don't recover as well due to height????

Too close to the sun? Seriously, I can see concern with mechanics related things, but recovery?

Problems with mechanics would hinder recovery, right?

Not that I am aware. Please explain.

what??? wrote:

You don't recover as well due to height????

Too close to the sun? Seriously, I can see concern with mechanics related things, but recovery?

seeing as he mentioned humidity, he's probably referring to the fact that the bigger someone is, the larger the ratio of mass-to-surface-area is. because of this larger ratio, they dissipate heat less efficiently (because surface area, a.k.a. skin, is the main mode of cooling).

while a tall distance runner is also usually very thin (thus decreasing this ratio), the fact that there are longer, larger muscle groups acting as he runs also increases his body heat.

basically, humidity just adds insult to injury for the already-easily-overheated tall runner.

I don't know, Giraffes and Camels are pretty tall and top heavy and they run OK in the heat .

Of course a taller runner gains a mechanical advantage with longer levers increasing their stride length, but slowing frequency, and the suface area is in direct relationship to their time spent in the humidity..................................

This could go on and on.

Taller runners, as a distance runner, do you think you have a distinct advantage or disadvantage due to your height?

Don't hear this guy whining about his height...

http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/athlete=137796/BioPopUp.html

tall runners are at a mechanical disadvantage when it comes to running uphill and stuff like that, but I doubt your lack of ability to recover quickly is because of your height. Get a blood test and check your ferretin levels, anemia is one of the most common reasons people recover slowly.

Paul Tergat. He is relatively tall, no big deal. Mottram, Lancashire. Hmm...yep, sucks being tall, definite disadvantage there...

I put one foot in front of the other, just like my training partner who is only 5'7''......I am 6'3".

this is a silly thread.

There's plenty of 6'2" or 6'3" runners out there, and I don't think this thread applies to them. The original poster is 6'6" for frick's sake. That's obviously quite a bit taller, and close to the limit you see for a distance runner. So either answer his question or STFU you tards.