Elitetrack: Sport Training & Conditioning

Does anyone have data on the stride distances to the first hurdle for collegiate or int’l men?  I would think that these numbers would be pretty consistent across performance levels.  Has anybody used tape marks for the 8 strides to the first hurdle?

Stride length is difficult to measure to the first hurdle because each step is a different length.  Since you’re accelerating to the first hurdle, each step would be longer than the one before.  Finding exact numbers for these legnths would be hard.

The Russans used to measure stride lengths by running on long lengths of paper layed out on the track(!) 

Since the invention of digital video cameras it is not hard to put distance indicators by the side of the track, film, play-back frame by frame and then measure the stride lengths. 

Have a look at the web site http://www.ukhurdlesclub.net and browse through the coaching section.  You will probably find what you need there.

Originally posted by PZale8018
Stride length is difficult to measure to the first hurdle because each step is a different length.  Since you’re accelerating to the first hurdle, each step would be longer than the one before.  Finding exact numbers for these legnths would be hard.

I realize that, yes.  It’s not just a matter of dividing 13.72 (or 11.62, if you assume a 1.1m takeoff distance) by 8 to get the stride length.  That’s why it’s not easy to figure out. 

Simon, I’ll try your suggestion of putting distance indicators by the track.  The problem is that this method determines what a given hurdler is currently taking, not what is optimal.  That’s why I’d like data on elite athletes (of which I have none

I realize that, yes.  It’s not just a matter of dividing 13.72 (or 11.62, if you assume a 1.1m takeoff distance) by 8 to get the stride length.  That’s why it’s not easy to figure out. 

nice math

It is probably varies for different body types. Depending on height and build.  I don’t really see why you want to know.

Sprinters of various body types all take 8 strides to the first hurdle (with a few 7-step exceptions with which I’m not interested). 

I’d like to know because I’d like to know when a given hurdler is straying from an optimal acceleration pattern to the first hurdle.  It’s helpful to look at shin angles, but wouldn’t it be nice to have a tape mark down as a training and evaluation aid?

“I don’t know why you want to know” seems like a cop-out….:wink:

Originally posted by duck
“I don’t know why you want to know” seems like a cop-out….:wink:

I was just wondering.

Duck,
I don’t think what you are looking for exists - although it is a nice idea.

Justification: IMHO The key distance is the take-off distance from the hurdle.  The optimum take-off distance for any athlete varies according to their anthropometrical characteristics (height, leg length, etc).  For similar reasons the length of athlete’s first stride out of the blocks varies conciderably.  So the distance from first contact to take-off is different for each athlete.  The way that distance is covered also varies due to different acceleration patterns (related to anthropometrics again and strength and muscle type).

Film, measure, analyse, train, film again, check differences, repeat!!

Originally posted by Fraek
I realize that, yes.  It’s not just a matter of dividing 13.72 (or 11.62, if you assume a 1.1m takeoff distance) by 8 to get the stride length.  That’s why it’s not easy to figure out. 

nice math

lol, 2.1 m takeoff.

these are “about right” so that you can put tape down and film or have a coach watch
women (in meters) from start line
.5
1.6
2.9
4.35
5.90
7.55
9.30
11.00

men
.6
1.8
3.15
4.65
6.25
8.0
9.85
11.70

These marks use progressive stride lenghtening and cut step and keep you away from hurdle far enough to give efficient parabola.

Thanks RonG, that’s what I was looking for.  I’ll try those out.