"Gliding"

I believe it is referencing when you have a quick turnover and are minimizing the "bounce" of the typical runner.  Think of the top marathoners and how they seem to skim accross the pavement and "glide" as they run.

At least that is what I think it refers to .......

Here is a link where Jeff Galloway describes the idea:

http://www.runinjuryfree.com/resources/ask_jeff.html 

Very helpful -- thanks!

Gliding

AdventureBear - 2007-01-07 5:41 PM

SithVegeta - 2007-01-07 4:38 AM Is gliding just a really long stride while running? If so then I would guess you just take longer strides while running....

A longer stride produces less glide, more bounce as you need to overcome the braking inertia of a foot landing out in front of you creates.

Not necessarily true.  The stride length of elite runners is longer than most non-elites.  Their stride rate is generally only at best 10% better than MOPers.  It depends on where the foot lands.

Gliding

I didn't know it as gliding, but I can speak to this now that I know it is about running downhill.  I love it.  I call it letting the wheels roll.  When I'm going downhill I concentrate very hard on form.  Keep the stride length right, proper foot placement and strike, and GO!  With very little effort you can zoom down a hill.  I first noticed how this can help you in my half mary last summer.  When we went down hill I passed tons of people who were chugging down at their usual pace fighting gravity.  Schmize was a little behind me at this point (he was pacing smarter - i wasn't faster) and noticed what I was doing and began copying me to keep up.  It's like free speed and I couldn't believe everyone wasn't doing it.  As long as you can maintain your proper form it works like a charm.  I have a very hilly half mary coming up in March and I can't wait to do it again there.

chirunner134 - 2007-01-08 1:36 PM

Scout7 - 2007-01-08 12:36 PM

AdventureBear - 2007-01-07 5:41 PM

SithVegeta - 2007-01-07 4:38 AM Is gliding just a really long stride while running? If so then I would guess you just take longer strides while running....

A longer stride produces less glide, more bounce as you need to overcome the braking inertia of a foot landing out in front of you creates.

Not necessarily true.  The stride length of elite runners is longer than most non-elites.  Their stride rate is generally only at best 10% better than MOPers.  It depends on where the foot lands.

yeah faster you are the longer the stride length but it should open behind you and not in front of you. Chi running DVD has a great example of this.

I find that leaning forward a touch allows me to keep a higher turnover with less effort too. Interesting discussion...

chirunner134 - 2007-01-08 3:36 PM

Scout7 - 2007-01-08 12:36 PM

AdventureBear - 2007-01-07 5:41 PM

SithVegeta - 2007-01-07 4:38 AM Is gliding just a really long stride while running? If so then I would guess you just take longer strides while running....

A longer stride produces less glide, more bounce as you need to overcome the braking inertia of a foot landing out in front of you creates.

Not necessarily true. The stride length of elite runners is longer than most non-elites. Their stride rate is generally only at best 10% better than MOPers. It depends on where the foot lands.

yeah faster you are the longer the stride length but it should open behind you and not in front of you. Chi running DVD has a great example of this.

As a side note, the higher cadence and longer stride of the elites has been shown to be less efficient than the stride mechanics of non-elites.  They get more power out of their stride. 

Fascinating...this 180 steps/min seems like a magic number...could it be true?

Too bad I always lose count by 90. 

Interesting.  Any idea where you saw this?

I have a link to a study some might find interesting.  It's kind of math-intensive, but if you get to the end to see the results, it's worth it.

 http://www.elitetrack.com/articles/weyand.pdf

Call me a naysayer, but I'm generally of the opinion that unless your current stride rate is below about 160-165, you're fine. 

Oh of course!  A 20 second count on one leg...an easy solution to my counting woes. 

And a tempo meter -- sounds like a metronome, right?  I ran half of my second 13.1 race near a woman who was wearing one.  What a freaking nuisance!!  I'm sure it helped her keep the pace, but the beat seemed really fast and it was impossible to tell where it was coming from until I passed her (deliberately) and the silence returned.  I'd never wear one in a race, but I bet they're a cheap and useful training tool.