Kenyans have higher arm swing

Weird timing. I was just watching a few videos earlier today and noticed the same thing.

Except Wilson Kipsang....and John Ngugi and Kip Keino..

Michael Phelps admits that he eats lots of junk food. That doesn't mean you should too.

The average elite kenyan probably has quite different body geometry than you do. It is reasonable to assume some kenyans would then run with slightly different form than is ideal for you.

I'd listen to your coach. Not saying you should be afraid to question established "wisdom" about running, by all means question, but until you have answers or a sound theory of something different that might work, I'd continue down the path of established tradition.

Some do, some don't. You could name just as many who don't have high arm swings.

It's for balance, since African athletes have a higher center of gravity, which also contributes to why they are faster.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100712103349.htm

Don't try to explain with scientific reasons. The reason is very much more simple : running with higher arm swing is what happens for every runner, when climbing. The most part of Kenyans started running in very hilly areas, and automatically started to close th angle of their elbows, because their shoulders, running uphill, go ahead.

Running with higher arm swing doesn't allow a correct action of the respiratory muscles, and this is Always a mistake, since who runs in this way can't have a correct motion of the arms, and is obliged to rotate the trunk.

For that reason, we work for changing this behavior, trying to find the best position for every different athlete. Sometimes we succeed (look at Wilson Kipsang, Abel Kirui, Florence Kiplagat, Geoffrey Mutai, Eliud Kipchoge, etc...), sometimes not (Moses Mosop, Mary Keitany, Lucy Kabuu). But it's out of discussion that an angle, at the elbow, between 80 and 100 grades is the best for Optimizing the performance.

/thread.

Amazing when one non-peer reviewed paper becomes lore.

You just called one of the most successful distance coaches of all times an idiot? wow.

The Stache wrote:

You just called one of the most successful distance coaches of all times an idiot? wow.

Yes, because even good coaches can lack understanding of science.

center of gravity wrote:

Renato Canova wrote:

Don't try to explain with scientific reasons.

No Renato, it really is a matter of physics with the higher center of gravity. Idiot.

What do you know about center of gravity? Not much I assume. Most all Kenyans ARE LEGS, and little to no shoulders. Therefore their center of gravity would be LOWER THAN THE AVERAGE MALE.

The higher arms would be because of the lowered COG. Think about it; in order to keep 'balanced', they wouldn't overload the top. If the COG was higher, the arms would be swing lower to keep 'balanced'.

center of gravity wrote:

Renato Canova wrote:

Don't try to explain with scientific reasons.

No Renato, it really is a matter of physics with the higher center of gravity. Idiot.

Coaches find what works, science tries to prove them wrong/right.

All really skinny runners tend to do this. Big case in point: Mary Cain, also tons of 9th grade prodigies that are under 100 lbs.. Also Tiru Dibaba (the most radical case of the top runners). At very least, when your BMI is low enough, it matters little what you do with your arms, unless sprinting/kicking (Tiru drops her arms when sprinting).

So if physics requires that Africans MUST run with higher arm carriage due to having a higher center of gravity does lowering the arms defy physics?

The Stache wrote:

You just called one of the most successful distance coaches of all times an idiot? wow.

Shut up! He goes to Kenya looking for the most talented. Relax

SMJO wrote:

So if physics requires that Africans MUST run with higher arm carriage due to having a higher center of gravity does lowering the arms defy physics?

Lower arms is the preferred way to run in my opinion.

The Stache wrote:

You just called one of the most successful distance coaches of all times an idiot? wow.

I'll second the charge that Canova is an idiot. His "success" is nothing more than a a result of the fact that he's tapping the richest genetic talent pool on the planet.

marathon man 21 wrote:

SMJO wrote:

So if physics requires that Africans MUST run with higher arm carriage due to having a higher center of gravity does lowering the arms defy physics?

Lower arms is the preferred way to run in my opinion.

Preferred? That would mean that more people run with lower arms. Not true.