Running Form

If you are like me, you were jumping up and down in disbelief, while watching the Men's 100m Final Saturday in Beijing. Usain Bolt ran a world record time 9.69 sec with his hands down at his sides while decelerating over the last 15 or so meters.

Everyone else in the media seems to be talking about the showmanship that was cocky at best and arrogant at worst displayed by the 21 year old. I can't say that I don't blame him though, given the same situation and winning like he did I am not sure how I would have celebrated. The fact remains he did just win a gold medal at the biggest athletics showcase in the world in the race that arguably has had some of the most testosterone filled athletes.

While I don't necessarily condone the antics I do want to comment on Usain's running form. If any sprinters are reading this take a look at the video clip of Usain to see just about perfect sprinting form. His form is magnificent and I don't know that I have seen as good of form in quite some time. He runs the first 10 m low and driving forward, the middle 70 m are run with him still accelerating, however he is relaxed with great knee drive and even better yet, notice how he kicks himself in the butt with each step. Each stride has a heel touching his buttock and then landing on his toes again. Even as he is decelerating through the finish he is still running with that perfect leg drive and kick back. It is great to see perfect form does have its advantages and if he would have kept accelerating there is no telling how fast he could have gone. The take home point if you are going to model yourself after Usain Bolt is to take note of his running form, copy it and then leave it at that.

Comments

[CoachM2Run]

You are 21 years old and you just realize that you have:
1. ran your race and have the lead with room to spare (20 meters).
2. You have won a Gold medal in the 2008 World Olympics.
3. You are the fastest Man in the World!
4. You just made World History!
Today, “You” just made World History….

Hard to say what I would do with that information and almost a full second left to finish the race. I guess we will have to wait and see what he does when he is 26 years old in 2012.