So we agree Coe, Geb, El G and Kipketer have the best running form but which runners have a form which is not so (how shall i put it) aesthetically pleasing?
So we agree Coe, Geb, El G and Kipketer have the best running form but which runners have a form which is not so (how shall i put it) aesthetically pleasing?
It is not gymnastics or ice skating, you know.
believe it or not I'm gonna have to go with American reord holder Alan Webb..
scratch that Gabe Jennings for sure.
This subject was posted last year. The top two worst forms included Paul McCloy from Canada. "Two-lane" McCloy had sub 28min 10km speed and was one of Canada's great runners. Is currently a very good masters runner living in Calgary. Terrible running style but he got the job done.
salazar
swift e wrote:
believe it or not I'm gonna have to go with American reord holder Alan Webb..
what are you talking about? he might look a little rigid (probably from all the core strengthening- no shoulder sway or trunk rotation) but there is no extraneous motion at all. look at stills from the final 100m of any of his european races this season- it's like he's teaching a clinic on perfect running form.
Alberto Salazar - just horrid.
A vote for Goucher!
Nearly every fecking American compared to nearly every fecking Kenyan.
Back in the early 80's I believe, there was a red-headed guy Pat ??? from NY. Very unusual stride.
Goucher's form always looks like he is strugling even when he isn't. What a tough SOB though. I did a run with him a few years back and remember thinking "is this guy really hurting?" The answer of course was no but he just isn't smooth. A great racer who can just grind it out when it hurts.
Zatopek and Salazar, with Salazar probably far worse than Zatopek.
Interesting point on Alan Webb. He certainly is not a pretty or smooth runner. I know many will retort that "obviously it works for him," but the point is not whether it works, but whether it maximizes his efficient use of power. I'm not sure that his stiff form, with excessive lateral leg movement, accomplishes this maximization of efficiency.
silky smooth Ereng makes 2nd, 3rd and 4th look like carthorses. Elliott carries arms too low, Cruz arms everywhere though he did have 1 leg 6 inches longer than the other and Aouita head flapping around like a scene from the Exorcist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVDcZTHOQug&mode=related&search=
Paula Radcliffe
End of thread
Brenda Foster didn't have great form
French 400m runner Marc Raquil.
John Treacy always looked like he was running into a headwind
Paul McCloy from Canada. Look like his head was going to roll of his shoulders with every stride.
bottom row - pretty much standard salazar form, you have to work to find a good shot of al. it is amazing that he ran 27:30.