Running strides vary from person to person. Some runners have longer strides than others. Is there an advantage to having a long stride or a short stride? Derrick, Hamill, and Caldwell looked into the energy absorption the body experiences during running. The research team recruited 10 runners and measured 5 different stride lengths. With the different stride lengths they also measured force applied to joints of the leg.

The 5 stride lengths were determined by measuring the runners preferred stride length and 4 deviations of that length being: -/+ 10%, and -/+ 20%. Derrick and team also measured force applied at the ankle, knee, and hip joints. The data was gathered and analyzed.

Results illustrated an increasing amount of shock on joints as stride length increased. As runners try to increase their speed they increase stride length. As runners tackle a downhill they lengthen their stride. As runners increased their stride length they also increased the shock experienced on their joints.

So, what should we do instead? Well, increase your stride rate and not length. If you want to go faster then just take more steps not longer steps. Increasing your stride rate will increase speed and help decrease shock to your ankles, knees, and hips.

Coach Al
coachal@rgrtraining.com
For more information on this subject and referred article visit:
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise v.30 (January '98) p.128-35