Increasing Stride Length

Hi, my pb in the 60m is 7.01 sec. By viewing a video tape of this race, I see that I take 32.5 strides in total. To break it down further, I take 12 strides to the 20m mark. I’ve counted the number of strides of guys who are beating me and they all take less than 30 strides in a 60m race. Also by viewing the video, I notice that I have a higher stride frequency than the guys beating me, and I am always leading the race until about 40m’s. How can I increase my stride length without compromising too much stride frequency?

Trackman,
In terms of comparison to running on the line, video from the front and back. Since you are going to have this done, go ahead and video from the side as well. More for analysis.

What sort of build are you? Small and light?

Sorry, I should have added that info in the first place:
I am 5 ft 8.25 inches and 170lbs. I am very lean, and quite muscular.
Other things that may help:
I know that I have excellent spring in my legs when it comes to jumping - I jump 10.04 meters in the standing 3 jump (start at a stand still with feet together and jump 3 consecutive times as far as you can with both feet at the same time), and I jump 3.19 meters in the standing long jump. Also, my vertical is very good - I can dunk a ball that I can grip, like a volleyball. I just don’t know why I don’t seem to have this spring when I sprint, which I would think is what would give me a longer stride length.

Can you post some video? We are in the dark, until we can actually see what you describe.
Thanks!:smiley:

You are on the wrong track when you think in terms of a comparison of stride patterns with others. You must work within yourself and perfect your own technique- and strength, which has no relationship to your opponants’ race pattern. If you can post a video clip, we could understand the problem much more clearly.

My video camera is not a digital one. It records onto a cassette. I use RCA jacks to hook it up to my VCR. I don’t know how to hook it up to my computer, but I’ll try to find out. If and when I do, I’ll post the video.

DCW can you give some tech support here?

Same here. MY stride length is shoret and i wanna show y’all some races of me…

someone hook me up with a fire wire!!! i’m poor! i have no money… anyone in canada wanan link me one?

i got a digital camera too!!!:help:

It’s all in here.

http://www.charliefrancis.com/board/philboard_read.asp?id=868

I notice that I have a higher stride frequency than the guys beating me, and I am always leading the race until about 40m’s. How can I increase my stride length without compromising too much stride frequency?

Trackman , it sounds like that the problem is max velocity & deceleration at the back end of races.

Do you do speed endurance/ or special endurance runs?

If so provide the details, then we can provide more feedback

:karate:

Sharmer,
I do speed endurance, but the problem is not deceleration at the back end of races. The problem is, like one of the things you suggested, max velocity. I know that my max velocity is 10.15m/s, and I know that I’m still running 10.15m/s at the end of a 60m race (I’ve examined videos to get these stats), and since I know my stride frequency is quite high, I’m left to assume that my poor max velocity is due to a short stride length.
As far as speed endurance goes, we do it one time per week. It usually involves running 150m full out followed by 90sec rest, then 50m full out followed by 8min rest. Then all repeated 1 or 2 more times. This will change week to week, but it will be similar.

dcw23,
thanks for the link to the tech stuff. I’ll see about getting that cable, etc and hopefully I’ll be able to get me video online. I’m a full time student right now, so money is tight free time is rare, but I’ll still work on it.

I know that my max velocity is 10.15m/s, and I know that I’m still running 10.15m/s at the end of a 60m race (I’ve examined videos to get these stats),

Ok, at max velocity elite sprinters do have higher GRF which gives them longer/faster stride.

Are you tight in the hips?, this could restrict hip flexion and not allow for optimal power output during extension.

Do you have a sufficent hip flexor strength compared to hip extensor strength?

Both hip tightness and imbalances will inhibit max velocity, it is less of problem during acceleration when full extension doesnt occur.

hmm,
I don’t know if I’m tight in the hips. I just might be. I don’t know the answer to the hip flexor or extensor questions either. This could be where a part of my problem is. Thanks sharmer. I don’t know how to check for these problems, but I will start to focus more stretching in the hips as well as start to use the hip flexor/extensor machine during my lift workouts.

If possible, have someone video you sprinting for analysis. Run on the lane line so you can see the movement of the hips (and shoulders) in relation to the midline of body. This can give you the answer as well.

dlive11,
do I get the guy to video me from the front, back, or side view? I’m assuming front view, right?

Trackman,
I think that the answer to your problem is in impulse (force x time) production. You seem to be turning over too fast too soon so you reach a lower top speed than you should. There seems to be a lot of activity but nothing is getting done. What I am talking about is the quality of momentum (mass X Velocity) but you seem to be working harder than the competition. Simply put is that you are peddling your bike in a lower gear than the competition. Of course you are going to have quick turn over but you will pay for it in stride length. The whole idea is to have fast long strides with each push increasing your velocity. From what you have said, it seems ‘range of motion’ is the problem. Don’t get me wrong though. You need turnover but through a bigger range of motion which would allow you to have a better impulse off of the ground. Impulse (Ft) is the key to changing momentum (mass x velocity (speed)). Have your coach look at foot placement at contact and how the foot leaves the ground (recovery). I can bet that you are falling forward instead of pushing the ground, i.e getting good extension of the legs. Your main concern should be to get the body to travel at the highest speed possible down the track and I see that you figured that out. The better (faster) that you can project the body, the farther you will travel each stride. A gain in distance is therefore a gain in speed as you will be covering more distance in the same amount of time per stride. This way you will not only accelerate for a longer duration but have a higher top end speed. Good Luck!