In a 2 person race going into the wind the 2nd runner has the advantage of being behind the leader and running with less effort. Is the opposite true that when there is a tailwind the leader is working harder than the 2nd place runner?
In a 2 person race going into the wind the 2nd runner has the advantage of being behind the leader and running with less effort. Is the opposite true that when there is a tailwind the leader is working harder than the 2nd place runner?
It's not the opposite. The guy behind has the advantage in both directions.
I always tell my athletes to not let anyone block their tailwind when possible.
I do notice the difference in a headwind. Is the difference with somebody blocking a tailwind enough to notice? I live in a pretty windy area and just thinking of tactics for future races.
No. If you're running 10 mph and there's a 9 mph tailwind you're still outrunning the air by 1 mph. It's just that you're facing 1 mph of relative headwind instead of 10 mph.
Air has a mass, when its particles are moving we feel this as wind. Running into the wind you are running against oncoming particles.
Still air means you are running just against the immobile particles and need to "push through"
The tailwind slower than your speed reduces this relative friction. Now when someone else is running behind you that does not reduce the airflow (besides micro turbulences) so you are unaffected when pushing against the air in front of you.
Only when the tailwind is faster than running speed, reducing resistance at the front of your body close to zero, and you are benefiting from some sail effect, then you should not have someone block this tailwind.
Yes a tailwind can get blocked if a certain D 1 coach(Lawrence Johnson from Clemson) stands in front of the wind gauge. This may be just a legendary tale. Wasnt there to see it happen.