What does the team "strength" mean referring to running?

I was talking to a 14 flat guy the other day and the answer I got was sometning like "idk dude just someone whos strong I guess" Which was said more of as a joke but still.

I have no idea but runners seem to have two un-correlated abilities

For whatever reason speed is chosen as short distance sprint type skill and strength is applied to longer distance capability.

I've heard of 'speed' used all the way up to the 10k race or pace, and 'strength' used all the way down to the 2 mile or 5k

I think the term 'strength' for holding speed at a distance needs to be swapped with something that at least remotely makes sense*

*i am a hobbyjogger

It means injury resistant.

Jjjjjjjj wrote:

It means injury resistant.

0/10

"Strength" in track terminology usually refers to a runner's ability to carry their top speed, or something close to their top speed, for an exceptionally long distance. "Strength" and "carry" mean pretty much the same thing 200-800. Over longer distances, I think it also is related to a distance runner's ability to go up the ladder 5k, 10k, marathon, with success.

Okay that makes sense along with sit and kicks response. I was thinking about it and I think when people say strength they are always referring to work that is slower than race pace. Like no one ever considers work at 5k pace to be strength for a marathoner but for a miler it might be considered a strength workout. So easy aerobic mileage would fall under this. Also I do think it is used when referring to an athlete who does GSM stuff so it may also refer to injury resistance in some cases

This is op

I would interpret it as someone who has run fast times.

Aerobic fitness.

clarificationplease wrote:

I hear the terms "strong runner" or a session will build "good strength" a lot in the running world and I was wondering what exactly people mean by this.

Typically this is referencing workouts like long hard runs, tempo runs, intervals and general mileage. so I assume a "strong runner" is one who can run fast or long periods of time or really just has good endurance. This isn't really intuitive because when most people think strong they are thinking the ability to squat or bench press a lot.

I also hear the term "strong runner" referencing an athlete who does a lot of general strength/weight room work so it is very confusing as I feel it is a term that coaches just throw around

What is the general concensus for what strength means when referencing running?

It's irrelevant. Times tell you everything you need to know about runners. Championships tell you what you need to know about racers. Strong is perfectly meaningless.

A strength runner is someone like Steve Jones, Carlos Lopes or even Ben True.

One who just grinds people into the ground.. Not a pure plodder but someone who can use what little speed they have effectively and keep going after they have used that up.

Strongbow wrote:

A strength runner is someone like Steve Jones, Carlos Lopes or even Ben True.

One who just grinds people into the ground.. Not a pure plodder but someone who can use what little speed they have effectively and keep going after they have used that up.

Stupid answer. Whatever "grinding" is doesn't matter if you are slower.

In XC it's the runner that handles hills, soft grass courses, etc. Speed guys are those who need pancake flat grass tracks usually on a golf course fair way 2k loop.

But then those XC strength guys get torched on the track.

....,.... wrote:

Strongbow wrote:

A strength runner is someone like Steve Jones, Carlos Lopes or even Ben True.

One who just grinds people into the ground.. Not a pure plodder but someone who can use what little speed they have effectively and keep going after they have used that up.

Stupid answer. Whatever "grinding" is doesn't matter if you are slower.

It does if you are stronger.

ShabbazDfhedfc this is op wrote:

Okay that makes sense along with sit and kicks response. I was thinking about it and I think when people say strength they are always referring to work that is slower than race pace. Like no one ever considers work at 5k pace to be strength for a marathoner but for a miler it might be considered a strength workout. So easy aerobic mileage would fall under this. Also I do think it is used when referring to an athlete who does GSM stuff so it may also refer to injury resistance in some cases

This is op

Yeah, that's the best I can do. I like how you're thinking about it in terms of training. Serious training is in the rearview of my life so I tend to think in other terms, but I'm glad this definition is functional for you.

Among sprinters, I think of Allyson Felix and Lee Evans as the epitome of "strength" runners because of their ability to carry a solid amount of speed deep into the race. At 800, guys like Robbie Andrews and Clayton Murphy are definitely "strength" runners. At the higher distances, someone else would be a much better judge of strength than would I.

C'mon people...it means endurance! A strength runner has lots of endurance.

Wouldn't it be nice if strength actually meant strength, speed actually meant speed, endurance actually meant endurance, stamina actually meant stamina?

Yet distance coaches have to complicate things to justify their existence, or confuse their audience into thinking what they do is difficult, or confirm their ignorance.

How about tempo or threshold?

Let's just label everything in such a way that it is impossible to have a meaningful conversation.

Let's talk about high school boys and PRs and at the end we will talk about their potential in college.

Athlete 1:

400: 47.5

800: 1:49.20

1600: 4:08.00

Mile: 4:11i / 4:03.8 at a post season event

3200: 9:22 in an April dual

Top 3 XC 5k: 15:45 - 15:57 - 15:59

Athlete 2:

400: 49.0

800: 1:52.00

1600: 4:08.00

Mile: 4:13i / 4:05.5 at a post season event

3200: 8:49y at Arcadia

Top 3 XC 5k: 14:51 - 15:09 - 15:17

Athlete 3:

400: 52.5

800: 1:54.8 split in the 4x8

1600: 4:13.00

Mile: 4:18i / 4:10.6 at a post season event

3200: 8:51y at NBON

Top 3 XC 5k: 14:57 - 15:03 - 15:07

----------------------

Athlete 1 is a speed demon. Respectable in xc but doesnt quite have the VO2 max or body type to be competitive on a national level. Coach tried him in 3200 once at a dual but the athlete was reluctant to try again. Athlete 2 is extremely versatile with that extra gear at the end but not as quick as athlete 1 down the stretch. Still quite good however. Athlete 2 might not win a bigger state meet in cross country but you may see him in the top ten at nationals because of that next gear. Heck all athlete 2 needed was the right race to get ahold of one. Athlete 3 can contribute to intermediate level varsity 4x4s, but he is the slowest leg. Athlete 3 can run 1:54/1:55 in your 4x8 or in the open. Great 3200 runner and will score 2nd or 3rd at the atate meet in thr 1600 based on talent alone. He is a national top ten candidate for xc but if it comes down to a kick for the win he might be in trouble if he doesnt have a solid lead.

Athlete #1 is your future Penn Relays anchor and NCAA All-American 1500 runner. Athlete #2 is going to be good in the indoor mile/3000 and outdoor 5000. Athlete #3 is your strength runner who will be good as a second string big d1 conference miler to pick up some low points but 3000-10000 and cross country is his forte.

Team strength example in 5k xc:

Team 1:

14:55 - 15:20 - 15:28 - 15:47 - 16:05 - 16:12 - 16:17

Team 2:

15:06 - 15:06 - 15:28 - 15:31 - 15:38 - 15:45 - 15:54 - 16:01

Team 2 has phenomenal team strength. Team 2's #1-2 traded swapped the team leader position while #3-5 leapfrogged one another all season. Runner #6 and #7 are better than almost everyone else's #4 and #5 at NXN. This gives the team excellent balance and excellent displacer advantages. Team 1 instead has a linear composition with a clear pecking order all season long. Not as strong as Team 2 although they might score better in a dual meet.

Usually used for people with little speed, but can maintain a steady pace in the late stages.