for an ad-free Fetcheveryone experience!

More efficient running style

1 lurker | 183 watchers

richh Apr 2013 6:37pm, 25 Apr 2013 629 posts	Quote Pin richh gazelles vs. gliders http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJWPwVF30yo Note the two links in the comment posted with the video. Although there are some specific statements with which I disagree, the basic analysis is interesting.
richh Apr 2013 8:15pm, 25 Apr 2013 630 posts	Quote Pin richh I meant to post the link, not the vid. Type in www.youtube.com/ and then this watch?v=tJWPwVF30yo
SPR Apr 2013 9:01pm, 25 Apr 2013 18,334 posts	Quote Pin SPR http://youtu.be/tJWPwVF30yo
SPR Apr 2013 9:04pm, 25 Apr 2013 18,335 posts	Quote Pin SPR That's a link to Rich's video. Interesting watch so far.
richh Apr 2013 9:08pm, 25 Apr 2013 631 posts	Quote Pin richh Thanks, SPR! if you go down to the comment posted under the video, it has two links to the parent site with explanations and even some maths, for those so inclined.
Canute Apr 2013 11:07pm, 25 Apr 2013 615 posts	Quote Pin Canute Richh, This is really interesting. While there is little doubt that the gazelle style is better for fast runners, there is reason to debate whether or not the glider style might be beneficial for slow runners, especially with regard to injury risk. For the efficiency point of view, we need to consider the three major energy costs of running: 1) Overcoming braking. Provided a glider increase cadence to ensure that time on the ground does not increase, the braking cost per step will be the same for both but the cost per mile will be greater fro the glider because there are more steps per mile. 2) Limb repositioning costs: these increase with cadence and will be higher for the glider, but at slow paces this does not matter much because repositioning cost is only a relatively small fraction of the total at slow paces 3) Elevation costs: this is trickier to estimate. The video commentary incorrectly states there are no elevation costs. (I have not yet looked at the other links which I hope proved a more realistic account of the biomechanics). In fact elevation of the centre of mass occurs before lift off. However the saving in elevation cost per step is relatively greater than the extra cost due to more steps per mile. Overall, under many circumstances, the increased braking cost will exceed any saving in elevation cost, so the gazelle will generally be more efficient, except perhaps at very slow paces when braking costs become small. With regard injury risk, the issue is the relative risk of a larger number of smaller impacts for the slider comapred with fewer larger impacts for the gazelle. As the commentator points out, elasticity might absorb an appreciable fraction ofthe impact HoweverI am inclined to think that for a tired runner, (either in the late stages of an ultra or an ironman) the risks will be appreciably lower for the glider.
SPR Apr 2013 11:30pm, 25 Apr 2013 18,337 posts	Quote Pin SPR The blog links: ttbikefit.com ttbikefit.com
richh Apr 2013 12:04am, 26 Apr 2013 632 posts	Quote Pin richh Canute, There are also a couple of odd statements in the links SPR just posted, but the conclusions seem reasonable - gliding is a reasonable choice for runners who are slower due to either fatigue or age (my case, alas). My brother's club includes a 60-some woman who is a glider (or shuffler, as she is called in the club) and is very, very fast for age/sex.
UltraDunc Apr 2013 12:19am, 26 Apr 2013 10,884 posts	Quote Pin UltraDunc Hmmm sex, fast, very , and age in one sentence:-) I do agree though
cabletow Apr 2013 6:13am, 26 Apr 2013 21,153 posts	Quote Pin cabletow Elevation costs... Leverage around ankle... Look at the gazelle....lateral forefoot landing and toe off.... I see painful Achilles