Jason,
Indeed, and what was it that it convinced you of ??
I learned that an experiment with an n=2 and no discussion of alternative explanations of the results could be used as "scientific evidence" to sell an idea.
Jason,
Indeed, and what was it that it convinced you of ??
All the science stuff gives me a headache. ...
Now, arm swinging may work for Willie & others, but if I tried that right now my shoulders would be up by my ears again in two strides!
Ha!I suspect that at other speeds one has to make a more conscious effort. I think that there is a substantial difference between running and jogging (though I can't really pinpoint the speed which separates the two). The same would apply to the other great running mammal, the horse, whose gait is substantially different when walking, trotting, cantering, and galloping. (Though, I suppose that horses really "just run"!)
Do you even run barefoot Jeremy? Not that it matters--running is running--it just struck me as a funny thing to say. Kind of like me saying I can't speak for the entire minimalist community.I can't speak for the entire bf community .
Hey CS - I don't really follow you here. Why would your shoulders be up to your ears? The way I do it, the shoulders actually drop. That's part of it. But of course you're right in everyone having to find the right thing for him/herself at a given time.
Also - there aren't all that many "others" out there, lol.
BR- yes, the feet are naturally lifted off the ground, though it's the glutes/hamstrings that provide the propulsion during hip extension. The lower leg acts as a pendulum. Immediately after full hip extension (thigh/knee is at the farthest point backward), the hip swings forward (hip flexion). There's very little muscle activation that causes hip flexion to happen. There seem to be two theories on what causes the thigh/knee to swing forward:
1. The braking action we try to prevent by not overstriding forces the trailing leg forward, or
2. Elastic recoil from tendons pulls the trailing leg forward.
I'd suspect #2 is the more accurate explanation. Either way, during that forward hip flexion, the foot comes off the ground passively and the lower leg acts as a pendulum to swing the lower leg up and forward. You CAN contract muscles to make this happen, but why contract muscles to accomplish something that will occur in a relaxed state? That's where the efficiency issue comes in, and why I'd say Pose method is not maximizing efficiency. (see attached pic)
If a runner is lifting their knees as a means of getting the foot off the ground, that leads to inefficiency for the same reason- it's activating unnecessary muscles. As I mentioned in my original post, that's one of the reasons barefoot runners have such a hard time running fast... unless they stop actively lifting their knees.
BL noted an important distinction between coaching cues and understanding the fundamentals of running gait. It's fine to use learning cues to help people correct serious problems, which "lifting the feet" will do. However, we have to have an understanding of the fundamental principles of running gait to give our students the best opportunity for success.
The "but I don't want to run fast, therefore it doesn't matter how I run" argument may work on an individual basis, but doesn't fly for those that are teaching/coaching. It would be the same as if we ran a culinary school but only gave people enough information to be a fry cook at McDonald's.
As far as the "teach the basics and let people figure it out" theory, that's great... it's what I currently teach. HOWEVER, the more we know about gait and the more we relay that to our students, the more we facilitate that process. Over the last few years, we've come a long way toward understanding the whole "natural" running thing. Do we ignore that progress and always fall back on "figure it out yourself?" Or do we incorporate what we've learned to make the process more effective? As a former teacher, the former approach is absurd.
After running again this morning and paying more attention to what I'm doing, I'd say that I'm lifting my leg fast enough to not trip over my forefoot, that is, fast enough to overcome gravity pulling the forefoot down and the friction of keeping it in place. If your ankle is truly relaxed and you simply move your leg foreward your heel will lift up and push your forefoot into or across the ground or push your leg up. Lifting fast enough means you have to get the other foot in place quickly, which means a cadence of 180+, right?
Skedaddle, I don't know if anyone is calling these rules, just trying to describe what works for us.
I believe that you're finding that the results are mixed, because the articles span years of time, during which the theory of running has itself evolved.I've recently examined several studies looking into the matter. The results are mixed
Well, this is the clearest illustration!stand about 1 foot from a solid wall, then push on it as if you were trying to move it. What muscles are being activated? Same deal with running.
Do you even run barefoot Jeremy? Not that it matters--running is running--it just struck me as a funny thing to say. Kind of like me saying I can't speak for the entire minimalist community.