Comments on: You Be The Gait Analyst: Analyze Sam’s Running Form

By: James Copple

James Copple — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 19:04:22 +0000

Sam, I used to run like that. I transitioned to barefoot style. I think you would really enjoy it! It’s complicated but if you do your research and avoid TMTS (too much too soon) you may find a whole new dimension and increased enjoyment from your running. More importantly, you are more likely in my opinion to be able to keep running for decades rather than nadgering (technical term!) your knees, hips and back from all that heel striking.

By: beckip

beckip — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

* Slight Trendelenburg sign in R stance, so perhaps some right glute min/med weakness.
* More toe-out on R. There's some toe-out bilaterally, but it's more pronounced on the R. If the R hip is externally rotated, this can potentially fall in line with tight/weak glutes, and probably tight piriformis (or gemellus or obturators), which would fall in line with the Trendelenburg sign.
* Very slight R knee valgus at midstance. Not surprising given the last two findings.
* L arm circumduction
* Looks to be some L rotation and L lateral flexion that starts no higher than the pelvis or lumbar spine (though it's possible it originates even lower than that), but it's hard to tell just from that clip.
* Body weight appears pretty far back. This could be due to anything from tight QL or hamstrings, to weak core (which goes hand in hand with tight QL/hamstrings), to nutated sacrum (which would most likely be caused by weakness or tightness of the aforementioned muscles) to hyperlordosis of the lumbar spine (which again could be caused by tight back extensors).
* Slight forward head carriage. Would not be a surprising finding if there's sacral nutation or lumbar hyperlordosis.

But we're looking at a guy who is clearly fast, and is currently healthy. If he were my patient, I'd treat any little aches and pains he had and then send him on his way. No need to mess with what works. Maybe give him some hip stretches and exercises if he insists, but nothing too intense...don't see much need.

By: bob baks

bob baks — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Wow. Just wow.

He ran 2:28 once, and 3:33 recently!? I'll be lucky to ever run a 2:28 marathon, so he sure doesn't need my thoughts about form. However, if I woke up tomorrow and went out and ran like this, I would probably get hurt within a couple of miles. I would then change everything--posture, arm carriage, I would focus on getting the feet aligned properly (not just the right-they both point out), shorter stride/higher stride rate/midfoot strike.

I would put on a pair of flat shoes and start from scratch.

By: Pete Larson

Pete Larson — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to Naomi.

Yes, planning to do a post on it.

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By: Sam Winebaum

Sam Winebaum — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Really appreciate everyone's comments!

By: Kyle Schmidt

Kyle Schmidt — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Overstriding is the main thing that I notice. Shorter strides will result in a higher cadence and hopefully will result in faster running.

By: Martijn Jorritsma

Martijn Jorritsma — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Hey Sam and Pete,

I'm definitely not a specialized gait analysist and someone who has run 2.30 in the past and a 3.33 recently and has no injuries is someone to envy anyway, but here's my two cents.
I'd say try to work on vertical alignment first. I find the chi-running tips work really well for me personally: making yourself as tall as possible.
Then i'd work on the arms. Keep them closer to your body, keep the angle of your elbows above 90 degrees at all times and focus on swinging the elbows back.
What helps me as well is trying to plant my feet behind my center of gravity, which is impossible in itself, but the effort itself keeps me from overstriding.
Increasing the cadence helps me keep it light as well.

And if you want pop, do some strength work. I do squats with my 8-year old on my shoulders. That really seems to work (for my son as well btw, he loves it!)

Happy running!

By: simon bartold

simon bartold — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Not sure if my last comments got through or not Pete.. but here are my 2 cents worth.
When I look at clinical gait analysis (as distinct from in a research setting with sophisticated kinetic and kinematic analysis equipment), I like to start at the head and work my way down. This gives a nice structure to the analysis and ensures gait analysis not foot analysis. so this is what i see with Sam:
– forward position of head on shoulders (the head is very heavy, and so a position forward or to the side will have a big influence on the way Sam runs)
– the head also is carried to the right
– L arm swing carries higher and further across the body than the R
– L trunk rotation with L shoulder rotated posteriorly
– R shoulder drop,with upper body lean to left (clearly seen in video 2)
– Circumduction of L arm
– sits bodyweight too far back and therefore ‘overstrides” and increases braking force at contact
– knee extension bilaterally not ideal
– poor kick
– bilaterally abducted foot position
– L>R pronation at midstance
– large vertical oscillation with loss of potential energy.
That’s it.. always interesting to see what other people see.. thanks for posting and best
Simon

By: Geoffrey Alan Gray

Geoffrey Alan Gray — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I think it would be pretty important to know what pace he is running at in the video (by HR zone or RPE?) and how fatigued he is in the video. We've seen huge changes based on these factors...

That said, the interesting thing I see is a lack of re-supination. We've seen in the lab that this can sometimes rob the power that our body is putting into the ground, and might make it feel like he has less 'pop'.

Also--thx for shooting in 120fps!

By: John Chen

John Chen — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

To me it seems like his hip flexors or glutes are really stiff/tight, which might explain his overstriding and potentially may fix other issues posted...

By: Steve Fines

Steve Fines — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Hey,

I was at St. George too this year. Man was that a cold wait in the starting area!

I don't know much about running form, but if that were my video I think I would try to get my upper body a tad further forward and my foot landing more underneath me.

I think the real benefit of this video is:

1. I should get off my butt and go do a video of myself

2. This would be a great regular feature, where different runners (pros, amateurs) submit their videos and we all look, discuss and learn about them.

By: DutchGirl

DutchGirl — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

It's difficult to determine cadence from the video but it looks like it may be a little slow.
And I agree with Calvin that there's too much vertical movement, which wastes energy.
We all run a little differently though, and all in all it looks pretty good to me.