Hi everyone,
This is my first post and I hope I don’t come across as adversarial on my very first. I see that there is much merit to Charlie’s training principles and believe that he has more insight than anyone when it comes to athletics but there are a few things that just doesn’t make sense to me. To start with Charlie you mentioned that there is a 1:1 ratio when leaving the blocks at 45 degrees. If this is the case why is it the harder Ben pushes the lower his departure angle, which causes him to stumble? Shouldn’t the harder he push put him further out and up which would give him more time to get his feet down to the ground and under him? This would be so to me unless his departure angles are lower than 45 degrees. If this is the case shouldn’t it be corrected by coaching(maintaining 45 degrees) and how or is there an advantage of lower departure angles?
I don’t get what you are saying Tim. I thought his arms allowed him to push harder (apply more force to the blocks). At least that was the impression I got from Charlie and Dcw23 when a similar topic was discussed on the old forum.
No the harder he pushes not necessarily means the further. I think the ballistic action of the start is causes more by the arms then the legs. The angle is not a result of bens push off so much as the way his arm are forced upwards. I notice that when I force my legs to push of the blocks my total reaction is slower, my first step takes longer to hit the ground and my depature angle in greater as in above 45% not lower, causing me to pop up after a couple of steps.
THEONE thats what I was saying!!!
Couldnt agree more zoom.
Originally posted by zoom100
theone usually when trying to force something/push in sprinting it won’t work.in fact it will have adverse effects.
Zoom100, I am not saying the athlete should try to push harder. I simply thought Ben’s more aggresive arm action allowed him to apply more force. And more force in one direction should put you further in the opposite direction.
Guys I really appreciate your imput but I would still like to get Charlie’s take on the original question that was posted.
upncumin writes
how or is there an advantage of lower departure angles?
The footstrike is closer to the COM on ground contact which minimizes breaking forces in the start. The more vertical the hip angles during the start the greater the breaking forces.