Is Salazar right?

He's right. In what other sport is it okay to let form "develop naturally?"

I understand his point as good sprinters work as much on form as they do on strength and speed. It is crucial in such short races to perfect your form. I think distance runners probably don't practice this as much. Everything from arm movement, body posture, to how you strike your feet and switch your strike. Elite distance runners need to be able to change gears quickly to make or counter moves, and that means learning how to run on your heels and toes. From my racing, I know its hard to remember to do both, especially when you get tired, getting up on your toes to surge, kick, or whatever, is difficult and requires a mental preparation for your body to know how to do it too.

Distance runners would do well to watch good sprinters and see how mechanical they can get with their form preparation. Just like sprinters should take some advice from distance runners and work on their speed stamina as much as their quickness.

what do you guys think?

Sprint form works only as far as your physiology allows.

he is off shell. Marathoners don't lift their knees like sprinters and don't land on their balls of their feet.

What are you talking about run on their heels and toes and doing both? Also it is perfectly easy and natural to get on your toes when you surge and kick. That part doesn't take any mental effort, it just comes with surging and sprinting.

I seem to remember Lydiard saying something similar.

Salazar & Lydiard seem like two prety good guys to listen to for advice.

I'm not saying Salazar is wrong, but a psychologist could easily read into his concern with form. Simply put, his form was among ugliest of world class runners - I can understand how he may have felt like a awkward kid at the dance and want to fix all his athletes.

It's not easy for everyone. You can see just from watching races the guys who get left behind as they are unable to change form, and get on their toes to kick fully and properly. At the elite level sprint technique is important too, as any mechanical adjustment can help.

Sprinters practice form so much so that every mechanical element becomes second nature. I think Salazar is trying to say distance runners should learn to do the same. I have seen so many runners with weak or inefficient form. Also ones who don't change their form based on what is happening.

agip wrote:

I'm not saying Salazar is wrong, but a psychologist could easily read into his concern with form. Simply put, his form was among ugliest of world class runners - I can understand how he may have felt like a awkward kid at the dance and want to fix all his athletes.

An interesting point, and possibly true. So do you agree or disagree with Salazar?

Running isn't ballet! Alberto's form is called 'a shuffler'

because of his long legs and i remember reading that his

muscle twitch was predisposed to distance running. And

he's right on the sprinting aspect. As a distance runner you

gotta put on two hats, one should be, the sprinting hat.

I have always wondered how Al would have coached himself...does he really think he could have changed his form to that of a sprinter? I highly doubt it and I think working on form and sprinting speed is great but not at the expense of building the aerobic engine. Lydiard did believe in working on form and some of the first form drills I learned came from attending one of his camps.

AlSal - Nike = NutJob

I would like to see somebody like the ilk of a Kitty Kelley

write a book about the Athletics West team.

i think alberto is saying you need to understand and work on sprinting form/drills enough so you can maximize your top end speed, it's no secret that when racing at a high championship level, every distance race is an X amount of laps jog and a 53-54 second last lap with a 25 second last 200

The answer to all of AS's ankle biters:

26 f ing 48

In my mind the quote "If you learn to run like a sprinter, you'll be a great distance runner" is by far the best part of the video. The Rupp sprint part is open to debate.

Look at the running style of any Ethiopian, who do sprints frequently and sprint drills. Compare with a lot of US specialists >1500.

Wait for the positive. It may take years but your mind will blow if you only knew! There are people that know the truth... It's just a waiting game.

I saw Al Sal speak in Vancouver in December at a coaching conference. Listening to him, you quickly realize that he is a total student of the sport. He's trying to address every little thing he can with these world class athletes to gain an edge - the difference between Gold, Silver, Bronze, or not even making the podium.

As good as he was, he freely admits that he made some training mistakes as an athlete, including not concentrating more on correcting his own form.

ggg wrote:

he is off shell. Marathoners don't lift their knees like sprinters and don't land on their balls of their feet.

Too simplistic an explanation.

Running fast has economies and ideals. Forget about different body types for a minute.

Running at your fastest is a single support phase, walking is a double support phase. Sprinting involves hitting the ground and driving backwards, without propping.

When you coach sprinters you get them to build a rhythm of keeping their feet under them and increasing speed by putting more pressure on the ground, and more on the drive, coming onto your toes, raising their hips. But staying in control. That means the action stays pretty much the same, but your stride lengthens and your speed increases. You don't reach out the front to lengthen your stride.

All running is about power and efficiency. Yes marathon runners have less knee lift than 100 m runners. But so do 400 m runners. Marathon running is about consistent technique that minimises fatigue while maximizing the mechanics.

Sprinting is really just running faster. Salazar gets it. The best mechanics are with the sprinters as they have the least tolerance for error, going 25 mph+. Look at Bolt. He is mechanically fantastic.