What type of runner excels at the steeple? How will training for the steeple effect a runner's other events? Your opinions on the event?
What type of runner excels at the steeple? How will training for the steeple effect a runner's other events? Your opinions on the event?
Chick Hislop said there were three types of steeplers
1) Superior runners, guys who would run fast no matter what event they run because they're just that fast.
2) Technicians, guys who are very efficient over the barriers and maintain great form throughout the race.
3) XC types, strength runners who can deal with the frequent changes in pace and effort during the race without maxing themselves out.
Only one of these types makes steeple look pretty, but all three can run it well.
I'd say that a guy with good overall athletic ability will have a good chance at becoming a steepler.
One of my former HS athletes is now the #4 guy on the CSU Stanislaus all time steeple list. He didn't come out for track until his Junior year of HS and mostly focused on the 800 and 1600. He had played some football as a freshman and was the starting point guard on the basketball team. At practice one day, he was goofing around and started clearing some hurdles really nicely. I tried him out in a 300 IH race, where he ran 43.6. I told him then that he should steeple.
As a senior, he continuted to work on the 800 (but he ran cross in the fall)and got down to 2:02. I would have preferred to him to start moving his range up. He kept at the 800 for his first two years of college, but only progressed to 1:58 (he actually got there as a frosh, but stagnated as a soph). He started doing the strength work after sophomore year, had a good cross country season, then tried the steeple.
It took him a few races to get a hang of the race, but in his 4th race (which happened to be conference finals) he figured out how to run it and hit his good time (which I don't remember off the top of my head).
Who are examples of the three different types on the world/national scene? I assume someone like Shaheen for the first? Who excels primarily off of superior form?
a mediocore miler that doesn't want to run the 5k
say what wrote:
a mediocore(sic) miler that doesn't want to run the 5k
Like Kip Keino, Ben Jipsho, Anders Garderud, Filbert Bayi, Henry Rono, Jurgen Straub, Moses Kiptanui and John Gregorek?
mark rowland was a decent miler who converted well to the chase, ran an 8:08 or somthing and got bronze in 88. don't know what his form was like over the barriers though.
I think form is one thing that can be taught. You cant teach pure athletic ability. A person like Shaaheen was a champion as a junior. Most of those Kenyans look like they have good form because they are going so damn fast. But its what you do in between the steeples that gets you gold.
You have got to have some range and some speed and you need to be strong as freakin bull
say what wrote:
a mediocore miler that doesn't want to run the 5k
Incorrect.
rsvp mod wrote:
Who are examples of the three different types on the world/national scene? I assume someone like Shaheen for the first? Who excels primarily off of superior form?
I always thought of Croghan as being a technician. He was smooth as hell over the barriers. I loved watching that guy steeple.
Seems like most of the Kenyan guys fall into category #3. The guys who fall into category #1 are a precious few.
Osmotic Pressure wrote:
What type of runner excels at the steeple? How will training for the steeple effect a runner's other events? Your opinions on the event?
Based on my observations as both a coach and steepler, it takes someone who is very basically coordinated. I've seen a few guys, who can barely catch a frisbee, fail miserably despite owning sub-14 5k times.
Running and hurdling consistently over the barriers, and jumping the water pit require some basic coordination skills.
I can watch a guy hurdle a few times and pretty much figure out his chances of success in the event.
The best steeplechasers combine the speed of a miler with the strength of a cross country runner.
I ran 9.43 for the 3k steeple but couldn't break 60 for 400m flat. My 1500m pb was 4.09 at the time I ran my best chase.I was 9.06 for 3k flat.
I have had limited success in the steeple. I ran 8:46 in the steeple.My 1500m pb was 3:46 and my 5000k pb was 14:40, obviously my 1500m is a lot better than my 5k. I performed better at the steeple when I was in top 1500m shape.
say what wrote:
a mediocore miler that doesn't want to run the 5k
Yeah wrote:
Chick Hislop said there were three types of steeplers
1) Superior runners, guys who would run fast no matter what event they run because they're just that fast.
2) Technicians, guys who are very efficient over the barriers and maintain great form throughout the race.
3) XC types, strength runners who can deal with the frequent changes in pace and effort during the race without maxing themselves out.
Only one of these types makes steeple look pretty, but all three can run it well.
RIP Coach
One who is too slow for the 1500 and 5000, doesn't mind running with wet feet, can actually hurdle, and has a little bit of hops and flexibility.