In 2/3000m SC, do runners always use the same lead leg?

Depends on how many steps they take between hurdles.

Most have a stronger leg that they prefer to jump off but are capable of jumping off their weaker leg if needs be.

Due to the nature of the event , I don't know of any steeplers that plan on taking the same number of steps between barriers. as such, you better be able to lead with either leg if you want to be efficient.

I always use the same leg at the water pit. But for the other barriers, I can use either leg. I used to only be able to use the right leg as my lead, but the drills my college coach has me do my senior year really improved my ability to use the left leg. I'll see if I can find videos of the drills, or at least descriptions, and I'll get back to you.

Thank you all for the answers. I was told that I should be able to run similar time in 2mile and the steeple. I would love to be able to do that, but it's not as easy as I thought and I definitely need more practice :)

ray wrote:

Due to the nature of the event , I don't know of any steeplers that plan on taking the same number of steps between barriers. as such, you better be able to lead with either leg if you want to be efficient.

ailidh wrote:

I always use the same leg at the water pit. But for the other barriers, I can use either leg.

Both of these are (were) correct for me when I ran steeple.

It's nice not to worry about stuttering steps up to barriers, but that water barrier....that was a different deal.

We practiced leading with both legs. You never know what is going to happen in the pack during a race.

One other question, if I could pull off a 13:40-45 5000m, should I be able to run sub 8:30 with a decent technique?

I had decent form, not great, but i had a good water jump and wasn't within 30 seconds of my 2 mile time.

flotrack pro actually has agreat steeple videos if you have access to an account- a pro steepler on there mentiones using both legs.