Foot positioning on blocks

[John]

At the start of the Stuttgart 100m they show a close up of Powell’s feet and I see he has them part way up the block. I had been told you should have the toe portion on the track as when the heel is pushed back this gives the Achilles a stretch. Which is it?

[Charlie_Francis]

@John

At the start of the Stuttgart 100m they show a close up of Powell’s feet and I see he has them part way up the block. I had been told you should have the toe portion on the track as when the heel is pushed back this gives the Achilles a stretch. Which is it?

There used to be a rule that your foot had to touch the ground in the blocks but that rule is gone. you can still generate stretch of the achilles in the set position whether the foot touches the ground or not depending only on the block angle.

[Nikoluski]

I would go with the whole foot on the block. More secure, isn’t it?

[caballo_viejo]

I´ve got a big foot (12) so as you can imagine it´s very difficult to me to put the whole foot on the block (exception when there are larger blocks, a very rare thing to see for me )

However what I do is trying to “feel good” on the blocks , searching for the most stable position to explode.

[John]

@Charlie_Francis

There used to be a rule that your foot had to touch the ground in the blocks but that rule is gone. you can still generate stretch of the achilles in the set position whether the foot touches the ground or not depending only on the block angle.

Thanks, so in the case of having the foot off the ground you would have the blocks set at more vertical setting?

caballo, you got a good grip on the earth fella

[Lo_Hill]

@caballo_viejo

I´ve got a big foot (12) so as you can imagine it´s very difficult to me to put the whole foot on the block (exception when there are larger blocks, a very rare thing to see for me )

However what I do is trying to “feel good” on the blocks , searching for the most stable position to explode.

I am in the same position…size 13. I try to put the ball of my foot at the point where the block touches the track and try to put my heels on the blocks so that my momentum has no where to go but forward…

What is the consensus on this matter? Is this more of a preference thingy or is it some scientific stuff???

[Charlie_Francis]

@John

Thanks, so in the case of having the foot off the ground you would have the blocks set at more vertical setting?

Not necessarily as the optimal angle is determined by the position of the foot relative to the shin.

[Charlie_Francis]

@Lo_Hill

I am in the same position…size 13. I try to put the ball of my foot at the point where the block touches the track and try to put my heels on the blocks so that my momentum has no where to go but forward…

What is the consensus on this matter? Is this more of a preference thingy or is it some scientific stuff???

There’s a lot of preference involved but, even though the heel should be pressed back into the block as far a possible when on the marks, after the gun fires there will still be a stretch reaction, however slight. If the block pad is actually touching the heel, this will not happen and there may be a slight loss of force from the calf. This needs to be weighed against the overall start however, and what works for you is what’s best.

Please note: I am not suggesting that you should wind up or rock back at the start! This is death to the start!

[kidscoach]

Charlie, I’m confused… Are you saying as far back as possible without the heel touching the block pad is optimal? Or should the foot touch the pad and the heel be above it? I ask because we had been going all the way flush from earlier suggestions on site. (that may have been my misunderstanding also)