Sign In to YourRunning
Email Prefs
You can opt-out at any time. More information about our privacy practices is in our privacy policy. The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
We never share your data with sponsors and partners, but from time to time we may send you promotional offers that they give to us. You can opt-out at any time. More information about our privacy practices is in our privacy policy. The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Get the world's best running newsletter!

gait

Contrast in styles: Gebrselassie beats Mottram
Posted by simon on 11/9/2006

The Video

Share this Video
Embed:
Link:

The Story

Austtralia's long-striding Craig Mottram is the only non-African who is not scared of the distance kings on road or track. This rare side-on footage is a great chance to study the contrasting styles of two of the greatest runners around. Mottram, six-foot-two, comes in the final lap of the 5,000m at the London GP in 2004 on equal footing with Ethiopian multi-world record-holder Haile Gebrselassie, but is already starting to lose form. Watch Gebrselassie kick hard but effortlessly to leave the Aussie floundering, simply by spinning his legs faster. Gebrselassie is barely five-foot-five. For style purists, the Ethiopian is a magnificent example of how to do everything right, yet he famously runs with a sllightly crooked left arm -- the result, he says, of his daily 10k runs to and from school as a child carrying a pile of books! Source: Motion Gallery.
post the first comment | email | report | digg this
Tags:

Do I really need to work my arms?
Posted by simon on 1/24/2008 on simon's blog

Flat-out in the last 50m of a 100m repeat on the indoor track last night, there was no doubt about it: yes, I was driving with my arms (and everything else I could muster).

1
2
3
4
5
read the rest
comments (1) | email | report | digg this
Tags:

I'd like to run like this woman, please
Posted by simon on 9/18/2007 on simon's blog

No, I'm not proud.

This morning I was waiting in the clinic of Mark Plaatjes, world marathon champion turned world-class physical therapist, for treatment to the lumpy Achilles on my left foot and sprained ankle (again) on my right foot, when I picked up this old copy of Running Times.

1
2
3
4
5
read the rest
comments (1) | email | report | digg this
Tags:

Help your screaming Achilles tendons

http://www.yourrunning.com/forum-help_your_screaming_achilles_tendons

Achilles problems are the bane of many runners' lives.

Pain in the Achilles can be due to a strain, a tear, or chronic Achilles tendonitis, and likely culprits are a form/gait/muscle imbalance coupled with unhelpful running shoe designs, and/or a change in type or intensity of training. I know my Achilles tendons sometimes scream at me if I start speed work too soon; for other runners it's hill work that will set them off.

read the rest
Tags:

Contrast in styles 2...
Posted by simon on 5/30/2007
Contrast in styles 2...

Elite winner Edna Kiplagat drives on. The arms are powering her forward as she leans into the effort.

1
2
3
4
5
post the first comment | email | report | digg this
Gallery: Racing   Tags:

Contrast in styles....
Posted by simon on 5/30/2007
Contrast in styles....

By the time I've finished a half-marathon, Stephanie Bylander has cooled down, changed and is on her way home. She's a fast, talented runner... but her style! Wearing the light blue Colorado vest in the Bolder Boulder, Stephanie looks like a fashion model who's been asked to run down the road. She runs on her toes and seems to be leaning backwards; her heels don't seem to touch the ground, ever. She looks cool and effortless, but we roadside coaches couldn't help wondering what would happen if she learnt to use all her foot AND developed a forward lean. Contrast with the aggressive style of el

1
2
3
4
5
read the rest
post the first comment | email | report | digg this
Gallery: Racing   Tags:

At last! Shoes made for forefoot runners!
Posted by simon on 4/9/2007 on simon's blog
New Distance Racer from Newton.

Part of the problem with the latest crop of aches and pains (see my previous blog about 100 mile weeks) is that I need new shoes.

Not only are most of mine (I rotate them like crazy) getting worn, but my strength and flexibility has been steadily improving over the last six months and as a result my body is dealing with ground contact in new ways.

I'm a forefoot striker, which has always made foot choice difficult. An inflexible, high-arch type to boot. And I supinate, rather than pronate. Lately I've started noticing I am landing even MORE on the edge of my right foot than ever, while the new strength in my feet and ankles seems to be making the left foot land "differently" -- to the extent that I'm getting Achilles soreness.

1
2
3
4
5
read the rest
comments (2) | email | report | digg this
Tags:

Mirroring Benji step by step...
Posted by simon on 11/2/2006

Well, I may never run as fast as Olympic marathoner Benji Durden (once ranked in the world's top ten), but some 20 years after his years at the very top, at least I can briefly get near him. And check the style!! This was completely unintentional; I was just concentrating on drafting him in a windy Boulder Runners Club 5k track race. My wife Abby presented me with this picture showing an amazing synchronization of styles. It didn't last -- Benji dropped me about 25 yards after this was taken!!
Now, if I can just get behind El Guerrouj for a few yards.....

1
2
3
4
5
post the first comment | email | report | digg this
Galleries: Running People, Featured photos  Tags:

Get our Newsletter!

Enter your email address here

Your name (optional)

Note:We hate spam, too, so we never rent or sell addresses.