Did You See That

[Pedaling Fool]

ING NYC marathon is going on and the pro's just finished. I'm always intrigued by people that perform in very unusual form, see this some in cycling, but it seems more eye-catching when a runner does it.


And today's winner has the strangest running forms, but it worked and it also worked for her in London this year.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6tk8_Gassw



I can't imagine running like that, especially at her speed for 26.2 miles. BTW, check out this video of non-pro's trying to run that pace, actually Ryan Hall's pace, but close enough, kind of funny...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziQEsdXMbi8

[MuddyWaters]

Ive always thought of form and technique to be how you get the last few % out of a great athlete, not the basis on which their success is built.

Often said that the best athletes often make poor coaches, the reason is because everything always came easy for them, without them understanding what they were doing. Mediocre athletes that had to learn and work hard to have success make better coaches.

[atmilkman]

I wonder if they could incorporate that into trail running. What's your best guess the actual timed record could be for the AT.

[Pedaling Fool]

Ive always thought of form and technique to be how you get the last few % out of a great athlete, not the basis on which their success is built.

Often said that the best athletes often make poor coaches, the reason is because everything always came easy for them, without them understanding what they were doing. Mediocre athletes that had to learn and work hard to have success make better coaches.

I'm no stickler on form, neither from practice with my own, nor do I pay much attention to the form of others; except of course when it jumps out at you and not only looks weird, but when it seems as though it wastes energy.


Here's another view of her form http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RawNSxueDAo

I just don't get how she seems to rotate her entire lower leg in a complete circle while it's up in the air


I'm not critisizing her, obviously she can run. I'm just curious how that happens; I would have to work to get my legs to kick out to the side like hers, but with her's I guess they just naturally goes out to the side.

[4Bears]

Her gait looks like she may have had an injury or has something from birth that has caused her to run in an un-natural manner. I am no orthopedist but I am sure one could likely say with an exam and or x-rays. But it doesn't really matter as she is one of the best in the world.

[Traffic Jam]

Each runner has a running form that is natural for them. Running forms can be tweaked and improved but the foundation is unlikely to ever change. I can identify about thirty different runners (friends, not pros) based on their form alone because each one is unique. I imagine the runner in the video has always kicked out to the side that way. It doesn't work when others try it because that's not their natural form.

[rocketsocks]

hmm, kinda like a two plain swing in golf, and perhaps economy of motion through angular momentum.

[modiyooch]

I like this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70UF82nysIU

[Labojo]

I noticed her form while watching the marathon as well. I found it very awkward. I also found it interesting that the man who placed second was only 5'2".

[Pedaling Fool]

I like this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70UF82nysIU

Makes you wonder how the race would of turned out if she didn't fall. On first thought, one might think that she would have demolished the pack, but that's ignoring the adrenaline factor, which must have allowed her to do what she did.

I wonder if you look at her pace from the time she got up and started running again until she crossed the line, if that pace would have been a WR pace?

It's also interesting in that it shows that even the pros can't (normally if ever ) tap into that special little reserve unless pushed.




Here's a funny little video (kind of childish, but interesting) on energy spent... http://www.realclearscience.com/vide..._marathon.html

[Odd Man Out]

Here's a funny little video (kind of childish, but interesting) on energy spent... http://www.realclearscience.com/vide..._marathon.html

Back in 1987 there was a PBS Science series called "The Ring of Truth". On one episode, it was calculated that a Tour de France cyclist burns on average the calorie equivalent of 32 jelly doughnuts per day. To illustrate how much energy this is, they got 32 JD's, dried them completely free of water, then lit them on fire. The resulting conflagration was impressive.