Good running mechanics: Kenenisa Bekele

Oops, got those 2 links reversed.

Kenny B uses classic P.O.S.E running form.

Pose like a troll wrote:

Kenny B uses classic P.O.S.E running form.

Well, I'm not an expert on POSE, but I have looked at it briefly. I don't see anyone on the POSE website running 52 second 400s.

Bekele's high feet during his stride ("pulling" in POSE-speak) is actually the only part of his motion that is wasteful at 63 second 400m pace, IMO. I don't see any other things in his motion that I would call classic POSE. But like I said, I'm not an expert on POSE.

What I do see is that his slight upward foot pull at 63 pace transforms into a strong forward pull at 52 pace.

I always thought Bekele had the smoothest form in distance running.

2008? wrote:

I always thought Bekele had the smoothest form in distance running.

Look at how much smoother he is than Geb in the 10000 video.

My picks for running smoothness:

60-63 second 400m pace (5k, 10k): Craig Mottram (sorry Haile)

56 second 400m pace (1500m): Hicham El Guerrouj (Coe and Webb are close tho)

52-54 second 400m pace (kick): Bekele, followed by Yifter

12 second 100m kick: Alan Webb - even better than Billy Mills classic finish, but pace has to be slow enuf to allow a 12s final 100m to be run

woman distance runner: Tirunesh Dibaba, at any pace.

PhysMech wrote:

But like I said, I'm not an expert on POSE.

Do you consider yourself and expert on running mechanics?

good videos...i really like that 04 athens vid...nice.

KBek looks like less of a "sprinter" than Geb. Geb really is way up on the toes the whole time. However, Bek has a more forefoot landing and higher back kick than Sihine does, for sure. Having said that, on the penultimate lap when Bek and Sihine were really going pulling away, Bek just looked SOOO smooth.

Another cool thing about the vid: Even though Geb finished 5th and out of the medals, did you notice that instead of just celebrating each other or themselves, Bekele and Sihine both turned around and waited for old man Geb to finish, they embraced, and put Geb in the middle. THAT's respect. Very nice.

This is true, he told me as much last year.

Pose like a troll wrote:

Kenny B uses classic P.O.S.E running form.

PhysMech,

Maybe you ought to look a bit closer at the website. Here is one of the POSE coaches who can actually run 52 seconds for 400m.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1842465734111992996&hl=en

PhysMech wrote:

12 second 100m kick: Alan Webb - even better than Billy Mills classic finish, but pace has to be slow enuf to allow a 12s final 100m to be run

When did Webb ever run 12 at the end of a race?

Billy bob t. wrote:

PhysMech,

Maybe you ought to look a bit closer at the website. Here is one of the POSE coaches who can actually run 52 seconds for 400m.

Using the orange cone, I had him at 54.8. But even if he is running 52 there (lane 3 or something???), his frequency looks maxed, his stride looks short, and he's wasting energy pulling his feet up, then forcing them back down before footstrike. I see that in all the POSE videos I've watched. IN MY OPINION, POSE might be beneficial for injury prevention/lowering impact stress, but I wouldn't look there first for efficiency or speed ideas.

When did Webb ever run 12 at the end of a race?

He brought out the nitrous at the Mizuno Grand Prix in NY this year. Not sure where he's hiding the bottle, but I swear I see the blue flame under the hood there.

Great, a guy who ran 1:47 in college, ran a 52sec 400m using pose.....awesome...this proves what?

Thanks for posting.. i like the enthusiasm of the Itlaian announcers. You here them saying mama mia.

they were looking for the last 400 split and they were alert enough to acknowledge it. Chinquanta Tre! 53

Anyway, i also always admired paul tergat and gete wami's stride. very smooth.

Kenny B's two other blasts were 53 seconds off 12:48 in Zurich Golden Leauge. Of coarse he took a nap on the second to last lap with a 67 second doozie.

Another one was in Lusanne 2003, i believe it was the first time Wejo saw kennster and he blasted his first sub 13 .. in 12:53 ish and he had a 52 second last lap.

They said that one was unreal.

my god, his form looks terribly strained / tight.all for a 52-54 - nasty.

Billy bob t. wrote:

PhysMech,

Maybe you ought to look a bit closer at the website. Here is one of the POSE coaches who can actually run 52 seconds for 400m.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1842465734111992996&hl=en

Tony wrote:

Another cool thing about the vid: Even though Geb finished 5th and out of the medals, did you notice that instead of just celebrating each other or themselves, Bekele and Sihine both turned around and waited for old man Geb to finish, they embraced, and put Geb in the middle. THAT's respect. Very nice.

Any time life or the human condition starts getting to you, just a quick look at Geb's smile sets things right again. As genuine as a two-year-old.

Billy bob t. wrote:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1842465734111992996&hl=en

... Although that's a lot faster than I can run a 400m, that looks disgusting.

You guys are overreacting....his form isn't that bad!