Is it worth using blocks if you're slow?

class of 2020 said: If you can't break 57, do blocks even give you any benefit?

no.

in the 400m blocks are only of benefit to you once you have learned to use them properly, to set them up correctly and you have trained with them to the point where it would seem strange not to use blocks. until then, just run.

cheers.

The truth is most athletes are not strong enough to come out of the blocks in a driving position without falling in their face. No matter what they do, they will “pop” up right away and the blocks give them little to no advantage over their competition.

It becomes more of a mental starting point.

Except for indoors, all runners are technically required to start in blocks at 400m and below.

Milethon wrote:

Except for indoors, all runners are technically required to start in blocks at 400m and below.

If true, I doubt it's ever enforced. I've seen quite a few NCAA meets that had at least one girl who didn't use blocks for the 400.

In some cases, yes. One of my teammates inexplicably stumbled (and nearly false started sometimes) at the start of almost every 400 he ran, which might have been caused by leaning forward too much at the start. Our coach wasn't having any luck trying to fix it, so he had him use blocks in the 400. AFAIK, he still hasn't broken 60, but he didn't stumble around at the start anymore.

I practiced with blocks a bunch before I started averaging about 0.1 secs faster over 60m, than from a 3-point stance.

My wife was always slower trying to use blocks without enough power, than just from a 3-point.

need strength for blocks wrote:

I practiced with blocks a bunch before I started averaging about 0.1 secs faster over 60m, than from a 3-point stance.

My wife was always slower trying to use blocks without enough power, than just from a 3-point.

Use if they make you faster, but a standing start can be almost as fast. Blocks are for setting up the angles in your drive phase. Most distance guys, old guys, average guys, don't really benefit as more can go wrong than go right.

I ran a state 100 final race with a standing start after knee surgery and medaled. The start wasn't the problem.

need strength for blocks wrote:

I practiced with blocks a bunch before I started averaging about 0.1 secs faster over 60m, than from a 3-point stance.

My wife was always slower trying to use blocks without enough power, than just from a 3-point.

How much faster were your 3 point starts than your standing starts?

FWIW, I don't think I've ever seen someone use a three point start at the HS or college level. It's either blocks or a standing start.

sillyman wrote:

I ran a state 100 final race with a standing start after knee surgery and medaled. The start wasn't the problem.

I see no point to blocks whatsoever, unless someone is a nationally ranked sprinter.

otter wrote:

It becomes more of a mental starting point.

Which can be useful sometimes. I know someone who tried to run the 400 like a distance race and normally ran the second 200 faster than the first 200. The coach made him use blocks so that he could get into the mindset that he should start out fast since the 400 is a sprint.

He ended up PRing by 2 seconds in his next race.

This guy started in the blocks and ended up running only 15.66 for the 100m at the 2011 WC.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C_A4EpOv28c

LoneStarXC wrote:

This guy started in the blocks and ended up running only 15.66 for the 100m at the 2011 WC.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C_A4EpOv28c

What would he have run if he didn't use blocks that day? 15.5 or 15.7?

It has more to do with the athlete's type than the athlete's speed (or lack of it). A 200/400 guy should be using blocks because he's familiar with them. A 400/800 guy will have much less experience and practice with blocks and should be using a standing start.

only in the marathon

cotton shirt wrote:

class of 2020 said: If you can't break 57, do blocks even give you any benefit?

no.

in the 400m blocks are only of benefit to you once you have learned to use them properly, to set them up correctly and you have trained with them to the point where it would seem strange not to use blocks. until then, just run.

cheers.

How can you learn to use them correctly if you don’t use them?

Just wondering. wrote:

need strength for blocks wrote:

I practiced with blocks a bunch before I started averaging about 0.1 secs faster over 60m, than from a 3-point stance.

My wife was always slower trying to use blocks without enough power, than just from a 3-point.

How much faster were your 3 point starts than your standing starts?

FWIW, I don't think I've ever seen someone use a three point start at the HS or college level. It's either blocks or a standing start.

I guess my 3 point was about 0.1 faster than standing. I train with mostly standing, so it takes a few weeks of practicing starts for the blocks to feel right.

I do falling start, 3 point, pushup position and blocks. Getting the angles and balance right is key for me.