[Derrick Brito]

Derrick Brito on May 26, 2005 at 11:55 am #10916

well i was once again placed on the 3rd leg of the 4×1, the curve. and i once again ate up everything in sight. so it got me thinking about what makes a good curve runner.

first off, a curved sprint makes interesting changes to the dynamics of sprinting, especially if you look at 100m in terms of acceleration, maxV, and SE. according to basic definitions in physics, velocity is speed in a direction, and acceleration is a change in velocity. this means that while running a curve an athlete is in constant acceleration.

whats this really imply? im going to take a guess and say stronger athletes are more suited to the curve (weightroom strong). along with the fact that curve running is a constant acceleration, i would say look for curve athletes in the following areas:

-athletes that lift big weights (strength for acceleration)
-jumpers (strong and usually good hurdlers)
-hurdlers (always accelerating)
-200m runners (guess why?)

anything else to add or take away?

[800prince]

800prince on May 26, 2005 at 8:52 pm #45944

Velocity is the rate at which an object displaces itself. Velocity is “direction aware” meaning it must be accounted for. For example 30 mph is a speed, 30 mph north is a velocity. Acceleration occurs when you change the velocity at which you are moving. Simply because direction must be accounted for, doesn’t mean you would be accelerating if the rate you are moving along the track stays constant or slows. Being that no displacement occurs the average velocity of a 400m race would be 0. Knowing this it’s much simpler to think in scalar quantities of speed and distance for track.

As for the qualities of a good curve runner. I would agree with your choices but for different reasons.

200 runners-obviously
hurdlers-also make good 200m runners, because curve running requires rhythm also have the ability to vary stride length
jumpers-rhythm, core strength, stride length
short, super-strong athletes who really grip the track- like Coby Miller

[cobras100mgld]

cobras100mgld on May 27, 2005 at 3:35 am #45945

dont know anything about it but im 5’6 and im a beats on the curves, maybe height is a factor also

[Derrick Brito]

Derrick Brito on May 27, 2005 at 8:32 am #45946

do you lift a lot? what events do you do?

[tkelly5]

tkelly5 on May 27, 2005 at 11:58 am #45947

I know I’m a pretty bad curve runner, and its also been noticed by myself and lots of other people that I have a really long stride when I’m running at full speed. So long stride length is probably bad for a curve runner, which makes sense if you think about it. If the curve is at a constant curve, then a runner who can….actually, this is too hard to put into words…need a picture. so, nevermind. hehe.

[swiftyer]

swiftyer on May 27, 2005 at 9:46 pm #45948

Well cockysprinter, your description of a curve runner works if I compare myself to it. I am the 1st leg on m relay team by the way.
I am a hurdler, I lift a fair bit of weight for my age- im 15(650 lbs leg press, 230 lbs squat, and 190 lbs bench all at a bodywiehgt of 165)*those are my maxs.

However, I was wondering if my height of 5’10” is factoring my ability to run curves. Although I’m one of the shorter runners on my team, it seems that the fastest curve runners are bout 5’8″ or lower. Does anyone know what the optimal stride length is for a curve?

[flash]

flash on May 27, 2005 at 10:05 pm #45949

I’m not too sure about the optimal stride length, but I can run a desent curve and my stride length is massive.

Now according to your theory I should make a good curve runner because
A. I’m a jumper
B. I’m a hurdler
C. I’m decently strong in the weight room

wow I should be amazing, I’m 3 out of 4.

But seriously your theory may be correct, someone should do a study on this.

[Derrick Brito]

Derrick Brito on May 28, 2005 at 12:23 am #45950

well people have always advocated the athletes i stated. i just stated that it might be because of strength levels as opposed to rhythm, which is commonly accepted. ive never understood the rhythm component of curving running though everyone says its there.

[cobras100mgld]

cobras100mgld on May 28, 2005 at 3:59 am #45951

i hardly lift at all but my maxes are 205 bench never did squat and 600+ leg press but never maxed on that lift. im 145 lbs by the way

[flight05]

flight05 on May 28, 2005 at 4:14 am #45952

im a jumper
i used to hurdle
im decent strong…but i have long strides and am a bit tall (6’2)

im a good curve runner as the first leg

[Daniel Andrews]

Daniel Andrews on May 28, 2005 at 6:13 am #45953

Stride length and strength what makes a decent curve runner. Also, if you practice the curves you get used to the lean required to keep you going at a fast pace. Long striders that reach run curves poorly, while long striders with greater strength and force production run them well if they keep a rhythm. Hurdlers, Jumpers, and big weight lifters make excellent curve runners as 800prince said.

[sneaky]

sneaky on May 28, 2005 at 9:01 am #45954

i’m garbage at running the curve, you could say i’m sorta kinda tall (5’10-5’11”) kinda skinny at 160 i run the first curve in the 200 as hard as i can but never get anywhere next year i’m gonna take is seriously so i can run a 21.XX

[Daniel Andrews]

Daniel Andrews on May 28, 2005 at 9:41 am #45955

Trying not running it so hard. Trying too hard usually means you are not relaxed enough.