RUNNING TECHNIQUE FOR EVERYONE™: From Average Joe
to Pro
As we discussed before in the previous articles the idea
of the existence of the same technique for everyone is still
alien for most people. When we speak about the difference
between an average Joe and an elite runner, it seems enormous.
On the surface, for the naked eye it looks very different,
indeed. In average Joes we can see slower pace, lower cadence,
visible efforts applied and no harmony of movement in general,
while in pro runners with their fast pace, high cadence, effortless
and harmonic movement, everything seems to go just easier
and smoother.
Well, it is certainly a good question: what makes them so
different? First of all, it is not about some of them running
faster. People usually indicate it as good running, confusing
fast running with a proper running. Obviously, those elite
runners have something undetectable and invisible that makes
them run faster. I have to immediately make it clear that
this is not about their VO2 consumption abilities. I knew
lots of runners and triathletes with an incredible level of
VO2 capacities, but with absolutely average performance in
running.
No question, a high level of VO2 capacity is a good base
to be a good runner, but it is not the most important one
among other characteristics of elite runners. A well-known
elite runner such as Olympic Champion, Frank Shorter, for
example, had one of the lowest VO2 max among elite runners.
So, what else distinguishes elite runners from others?
There are certain biomechanical characteristics distinguishing
them from average runners. Among these characteristics is
the ability to run with a higher cadence and longer stride
length, shorter time of support, lower vertical oscillation
of GCM, a specific body position on support, visibly more
leaning forward of the body, landing closer to the vertical
line going through the GCM of the body on support, bent joints
on support (especially, knees), etc.
All the above listed characteristics are different in average
runners. So the question is, if they can get closer to them
according to these characteristics? What is it that really
makes them not elite? What makes them incapable of producing
these characteristics? It is a tricky question, isnt?
Yes it is, if we start again from the pace of running. But
we are talking about the abilities of average Joes to run
as elites, not by using the same pace, but through achieving
the same effortlessness, gracefulness, harmonious movement
and by that getting closer to their potential, being able
to enjoy running as their self-expression. And at this point,
it is not about their VO2 capacity, but about something else,
which in the Pose Method I call the skill of implementing
gravity as a leading force into their forward movement. This
is exactly what elite runners do well. It doesnt matter, if
they dont know about this, they do it.
They run faster because they lean or fall forward more. They
do it intuitively, found it by an accident, maybe, and then
their high level of VO2 gives them the ability to express
this falling for a longer distance. Following from this parameter,
step cadence goes up as a necessity to maintain the given
rate of falling through a higher rate of changing support.
When our mind is set on these goals, then our muscles perform
their task much more efficient, as well.
The rest of the above mentioned characteristics appear as
a result of the body falling forward performance and fill
in the pattern of movement that we call running. So the above
said can bring us to the conclusion that an average Joe could
run as a pro by using all biomechanical characteristics, that
could make his run efficient and fluid. The difference will
be in how long and at which level of speed he could maintain
this performance. This is the way in which training of an
average runner should go development of his skill of movement
in general and in running specifically.
Dr. Romanov
Pose
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