Check out the start of the men’s 1500 at worlds this year:
https://youtu.be/uga45jtFAbo?t=32
Every single runner immediately picks up their leading foot. Engels seems to do a bit of a side step and generates a lot of power off this. Jakob instead basically steps backwards and then starts running.
Kipchoge’s start at INEOS last weekend looked similarly awkward.
What is ‘optimal?’ Are you supposed to keep the lead foot planted and “roll” your weight over it?
Craig's wink made me uncomfortable.
Funny, I've noticed this too in the 800m and wondered if it's worth it for runners spending a few sessions learning how to start properly as it's worth some time. If they put so much effort into it over 400m surely it's not massively different over 800m and there's some benefit to be gained from it. Especially as races are lost by fractions of second, starting has to be worth more than that!
In my experience with a standing start it's very difficult to not lean on your back foot at the start line. I think the best solution is probable keeping your legs really close together, maybe side by side. No attention is paid to this in distance running at all. Sometimes you see people putting both their left arm and leg forward standing at the line. Silly.
I'm a terrible starter. Every time I start the whole field is so far in front of me after seconds. That is why I'm suited to longer stuff. The marathon should be my best event. I will do one next year probably. I wish I had launch control like Bekele. I feel like I have the power to do better in races and potential. I am like a turbo charged engine which has turbo lag at the start line.
I had a group of really good runners a few years ago. One kid was always one step behind at the start.
I looked closer- he was switching his lead foot and rear foot THEN starting.
No one ever noticed it.
He changed his lead foot and it was a game changer.
runn wrote:
I had a group of really good runners a few years ago. One kid was always one step behind at the start.
I looked closer- he was switching his lead foot and rear foot THEN starting.
No one ever noticed it.
He changed his lead foot and it was a game changer.
I've seen this too! This seems to be very similar to what Ingebrigsten does in this video (maybe more extreme for your athlete). Maybe you need to lean more forward, so when your athlete took his lead foot back, his center of gravity shifted forward (if torso is in front) and he was "able to start running"
My coach(he ran for his country) taught me last year that stepping with your back foot does not generate power even though everyone does it. It also immediately falls you behind in the race. Ive made an effort to not do that especially in a race like the 4,8 and 1600 where position matters immediately. He just says to lean over the line and drive forward with your first step.
It doesn’t matter.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen has a 1989 Ferrari 348 GTB and he's just put in paperwork to upgrade it
Is there a rule against attaching a helium balloon to yourself while running a road race?
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Am I living in the twilight zone? The Boston Marathon weather was terrible!
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