Intelligence and learning in other areas of science also helps . . .Lee, experience helps one interpret data. As you have admitted you lack experience :-(
Intelligence and learning in other areas of science also helps . . .
In my experience the sun rises in the east. In science, the earth rotates on its axis towards the east. Folk theories, intuition, and anecdotal evidence may make you happy because they reinforce experience, but it is not the path to truth (although ignorance can be blissful, as you noted above). Forsake your primitive superstitions and see the light! Look, as the studies in those links did, at actual existing runners and see what they do, for example. If you wish to debate their findings or hypotheses, write to them instead of repeating meaningless platitudes here. All I want to do is point to the contrary evidence, which is incomplete but useful to keep in mind. You could tell me that running backwards is where it's at, and I should try it. And I may try it, and if I like it, I may keep doing it, but I wouldn't want to argue for its merits for all runners unless there was more than my experience to back it up. All I'm saying is that a lot of elite, non-Pose, non-Chi, and non-Daniels trainers and many competent researchers have failed to find any merit in the 180 rule, for reasons that make sense to me. I don't think there's any reason to discuss this more, is there? If you're happy in your running, more power to you!Those qualities are important as well but IMO experience trumps all.
OK, that subtlety doesn't come through in the video, as I'm sure you're aware, inherent to the format I suppose. The way you just explained it now makes perfect sense to me. Thanks for taking the time to clarify.In regards to teaching cadence- I'm careful to explain exactly why we use 180 as a reference point. Part of that explanation is associating cadence and stride length, and explaining why it's important to figure out what works best for the individual.
I've also started discussing the role of shoes and how different geometry will change gait (including peak efficiency). Example: When barefoot, all of us will have an ideal cadence and stride length that results in the most metabolically efficient gait. If we're wearing shoes, that peak may change slightly.
In my experience the sun rises in the east. In science, the earth rotates on its axis towards the east. Folk theories, intuition, and anecdotal evidence may make you happy because they reinforce experience, but it is not the path to truth (although ignorance can be blissful, as you noted above). Forsake your primitive superstitions and see the light! Look, as the studies in those links did, at actual existing runners and see what they do, for example. If you wish to debate their findings, write to them instead of repeating meaningless platitudes. All I want to do is point to the contrary evidence, which is incomplete but useful to keep in mind. You could tell me that running backwards is where it's at, and I should try it. And I may try it, and if I like it, I may keep doing it, but I wouldn't want to argue for its merits for all runners unless there was more than my experience to back it up. All I'm saying is that a lot of elite, non-Pose, non-Chi, and non-Daniels trainers and and many competent researchers have failed to find any merit in the 180 rule, for reasons that make sense to me. I don't think there's any reason to discuss this more, is there? If you're happy in your running, more power to you!
Don't worry, I already do a good job of discrediting my intelligence on my own. Happy trails!No intend to discredit your intelligence. As long ad you are happy with what you know and how you practice that is what is most important.
How are the Twin Cities looking? Any plans anytime soon?REI never got the ball rolling, so we decided not to do the series of clinics. I was hoping we'd get sent to Portland at some point this year, but it's not looking good. The closest we'll come in Idaho.
No, that's out, too. Our Midwest events will be limited to the Detroit Down and Dirty and the Woodstock trail runs in MI. The Woodstock races are great, up for a road trip?How are the Twin Cities looking? Any plans anytime soon?
You could tell me that running backwards is where it's at, and I should try it.
Maybe next year. Our youngest is 16 months, and we're taking care of my parents, so we're kind of hyper local for the time being. It's nice to live the traveling life vicariously through you folks though!No, that's out, too. Our Midwest events will be limited to the Detroit Down and Dirty and the Woodstock trail runs in MI. The Woodstock races are great, up for a road trip?
Yah, I've actually been meaning to incorporate running backwards at the ends of my runs. I've heard it's a good cool-down technique.Backward running is great - really! As a training tool
The reason, imo, why the higher cadence needs to be stressed for runners transitioning to barefoot is because it's a quick easy foolproof way of breaking the overstriding habit caused by running in shoes with a built-up heel.
Willie, agreed. My form has been feeling really good lately, and I too notice the power you get from the Achilles. I think my form has always been OK, but with greater experience and intellectualization of the process, it seems to becoming more finely honed these days. I never had a problem with over-striding--at least not barefoot (I don't remember how I ran shod)--so the 180 rule was always kind of a mystery to me, and it just seems odd (counterintuitive) to pull a nice even number like that out of thin air and expect to apply it universally, across the board, to every runner. Organic systems, unlike physical processes, rarely obey neat geometries and algorithms (with the exception of sea shells and the like). However, after my brief reading up on the topic, and after reading the replies/comments here and elsewhere, I would hypothesize that those runners who do find themselves unconsciously gravitating to a high, steady cadence, no matter the pace, are probably what I have termed 'rate-dominant' runners. I would further hypothesize that someone like me, whose turnover only gets up to 180 spm when up around 7mm pace, is probably a stride-dominant runner. This doesn't mean that I'm necessarily over-striding, but rather I am able to deliver sufficient force with each stride to propel me along at 10mm pace with a relatively low cadence of 162-4. It is with this in mind that I found conclusions 6 & 7 (culled from my reading) to also be a bit of a revelation.Hey Lee - I think #'s 8 & 9 sums it up pretty well. The only way to increase stride length at a constant pace is to edge into overstriding - and that's risky. Landing with outstrethed legs/locked knees is a bad habit. And barefooting should autocorrect the problem in most people because landing on bare heels hurts like all get out. It's just not normal.
Another small but o-ho piece of the form puzzle - the Achilles tendons. I've messed around with this quite a bit and now really appreciate the free energy boost I get when I let the heels touch down at the end of the landing. Gravity does the work, loads up the Achilles, and then, boing, up come the heels all by themselves on the lift. It's very noticeable on climbs, and it doesn't work when you overstride.