I’ve always wondered whether it’s better to to have a longer or shorter stride for a kick and whether it differs for different races? Also, does the benefit differ for different runners? For example would a strength runner benefit from longer strides while a light runner might do better shortening the stride? Would height matter? What’s the best kick form for different runner types in different races?
There was one study that showed three elite 5000m or 10000m runners, and I know that the longest striding runner increased cadence, and the highest cadence runner increased stride length.
A 5000m or a tactical 1500m would be rather different case to an 800m.
In a 5000m or tactical 1500m you would generally being going from a steady fast pace to nearer a sprint (assuming that the pace has been one that allows some reserve). In a faster paced race, the real kick might be late and a really sharp transition, in a slower one it might be more of a wind up over the last lap or more.
I've got a recollection of doing both in a 3000m where another runner and I had a gap. I was sitting on him, but noticed with about 400m to go someone was beginning to catch us. In that instance I picked it up from 400m which would have been a stride length increase, then dropped a gear (increased turnover) to sprint flat out from 200m out.
In an 800m, in general there is an increase in intensity of effort, which might give a short-lived acceleration, but in reality it's mostly about slowing down less rather than kicking, even though it appears that there is a kick. I suspect if you graphed the speed of a good-paced 800m over the last 200m it would generally be declining line, with a small bump at one point.
As far as training, there are some sessions you can do, where you run part of a rep at race pace and then accelerate for the last part. We also often used to do something like 3 x (4x150m), walk back between runs, 400m jog between sets, where you accelerated hard with 100m to go,
I think if you do some acceleration sessions with the fast section at a variety of distances, and concentrating on good form, you'll find what is the best way for you to kick.
Both happen. /thread
Sorry, but what do you mean by "strength runner" and "light runner"? Are you talking about their weight, or is there another meaning?
Anyway, my kick always goes down like my strides; first I "drop a gear" and increase my cadence by (what feels like) 25% immediately. Then ill increase my cadence some more while also increasing my stride length until I get up to terminal velocity. By then, I should have reached my maximum stride length.
Strides are freaking awesome, and so is kicking.
Kicker.. wrote:
I’ve always wondered whether it’s better to to have a longer or shorter stride for a kick and whether it differs for different races? Also, does the benefit differ for different runners? For example would a strength runner benefit from longer strides while a light runner might do better shortening the stride? Would height matter? What’s the best kick form for different runner types in different races?
1500m: Most 1500m runners sand bag a bit. Most 1500m runners past the age of 20 save something for last 300m.
800m: Most 800m races are battles of attrition. There are some rare jog & sprint 800m races, most 800m races, 400/800 runners are decaying the final 300m and most 800/1500 guys appear to be sprinting fast final 300m. The 800/1500m guys are simply racing close to an even pace race.
5000m: There are guys racing 5000m who do not want an extremely fast final 300m. Many 5000m races start truly with 900m to go. If one can race sub-41 last 300m, one will usually win. Often penultimate lap is sub-60 seconds.