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Running Speeds

allendowney.com

131–140 of 195 posts

Re: Running Speeds

#131
post #55

The really obvious thing, if you watch the Freeze "best of" clip, is that most people have terrible running form. In most cases, I suspect I could tell who has a chance and who doesn't simply by looking at one stride from each competitor. There are so many factors that go into biomechanics--I struggle to improve my own running form--but it's interesting to me that it comes together in such an obvious-at-a-glance fact…

Makes me think of Tom Cruise running:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09MiWO8uDfc

Re: Running Speeds

#132
post #68

I have what may be a silly (or even ridiculous) question: Why do recreational distance runners care about speed so much? Background: I went through a phase of long-distance recreational running - I ran lots of half-marathons, marathons, and even the Disney Goofy Challenge for a few years (half marathon on Saturday, full marathon on Sunday). It was all fun! Training was satisfying, the running itself was tough but rew…

A lot of cyclists enjoy cycling above Zone 3. One time I went on a ride with just one person and he was max zone 3 while I was flipping between zone 4 & 5. I’ve gone cycling with people slower than me and it’s literally so boring. You either go at your natural pace and wait at a lot of stoplights for them to catch up or you pedal way less. Speed also changes where you can go. Where I’m at, Cyclists will often meet up…

> I’ve gone cycling with people slower than me and it’s literally so boring. You either go at your natural pace and wait at a lot of stoplights for them to catch up or you pedal way less.

Depending on the route (and your interest), when you’re way ahead you could perhaps cycle back to them (i.e., ride in the opposite direction), go behind them some, and then turn again and race past them. You wouldn’t have to stop or slow down then.

Re: Running Speeds

#133
post #68

I have what may be a silly (or even ridiculous) question: Why do recreational distance runners care about speed so much? Background: I went through a phase of long-distance recreational running - I ran lots of half-marathons, marathons, and even the Disney Goofy Challenge for a few years (half marathon on Saturday, full marathon on Sunday). It was all fun! Training was satisfying, the running itself was tough but rew…

Why run if you don’t care about the speed? If I don’t care about the speed and just want to cover a certain distance to enjoy myself outdoors, I’ll walk.

Re: Running Speeds

#134
post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can only increase distance so much before something breaks. I think it's weird that you have such a strong opinion about this. Clearly you care about distance more but speed is another performance measure that is just as important. Also if we are purely talking about health, doing 26 mile runs regularly is not healthy.

I don't know that I have a strong opinion on this. I'm just curious why such a large majority of people are so focused on speed. I don't generally care about increasing distance either -- I'm just focused on general health and the enjoyment of the experience more than how fast I do the thing. A long bike ride with friends at a fast-enough-to-get-exercise pace is delightful. I never care about how long it takes us to…

> general health

> enjoyment of the experience

These are subjective measurements. You decide, maybe subconsciously, whether you are feeling healthy or have enjoyed your experience.

Speed and distance are objective. An 8 minute mile is faster than a 9 minute mile. 30 miles is farther than 20 (lets keep elevation constant).

When it comes to sports, some of us are driven by those objective measurements. Sometime to beat the "other guy", sometimes just to beat ourselves.

I don't know that I can fully explain that drive to someone that lacks it. Have you ever felt driven to perform your best by some objective measurement in a non-sporting aspect of your life? School, work, video games?

Re: Running Speeds

#135
post #122
post #68

I have what may be a silly (or even ridiculous) question: Why do recreational distance runners care about speed so much? Background: I went through a phase of long-distance recreational running - I ran lots of half-marathons, marathons, and even the Disney Goofy Challenge for a few years (half marathon on Saturday, full marathon on Sunday). It was all fun! Training was satisfying, the running itself was tough but rew…

> Why do recreational distance runners care about speed so much? Some of us to achieve our PB. Others to BQ: https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/qualify Some of us also engage in longer distances to find our limits. If you want a mostly chill crowd of runners, start running ultras. Speaking of finding limits, this past weekend the backyard ultra record was broken again. It now stands at an amazing 108 hours (th…

Great read for the last laps, love the format. It's great

Re: Running Speeds

#136
post #68

I have what may be a silly (or even ridiculous) question: Why do recreational distance runners care about speed so much? Background: I went through a phase of long-distance recreational running - I ran lots of half-marathons, marathons, and even the Disney Goofy Challenge for a few years (half marathon on Saturday, full marathon on Sunday). It was all fun! Training was satisfying, the running itself was tough but rew…

It could largely be sampling bias. The people who care about speed talk about going faster, while the people who don't care about speed don't talk about it, rather than talking about not caring about it. (Edit: typo)

That would not be out of place in a Monty Python sketch. Forums full of people endlessly debating the latest gadgets and techniques for not getting faster.

Re: Running Speeds

#137
post #68

I have what may be a silly (or even ridiculous) question: Why do recreational distance runners care about speed so much? Background: I went through a phase of long-distance recreational running - I ran lots of half-marathons, marathons, and even the Disney Goofy Challenge for a few years (half marathon on Saturday, full marathon on Sunday). It was all fun! Training was satisfying, the running itself was tough but rew…

For hikers and trail runners, going faster means getting to see more stuff, and being able to take longer breaks to enjoy the scenery

Running uphill is also an incredibly high fitness demand. If you’re a 10:30 pace on flat ground, you aren’t running up a trail.

Re: Running Speeds

#138
post #55

The really obvious thing, if you watch the Freeze "best of" clip, is that most people have terrible running form. In most cases, I suspect I could tell who has a chance and who doesn't simply by looking at one stride from each competitor. There are so many factors that go into biomechanics--I struggle to improve my own running form--but it's interesting to me that it comes together in such an obvious-at-a-glance fact…

In the Freeze video clip from TFA, the guy he's racing looks over his shoulder towards the end too. Its pretty hard to run forward with any velocity when looking backwards. That maneuver alone probably cost him a second, maybe more.

Re: Running Speeds

#139
I'm probably overthinking this, but the article makes me think about the infamous 10x programmer. If, as seems reasonable, the ability to program successfully depends on a number of factors (raw brain power, spacial reasoning, education, ability to concentrate for long periods, etc) and these factors follow a similar gaussian distribution, then 10x doesn't really seem that out of line for the best vs average programmers.

Re: Running Speeds

#140
post #68

I have what may be a silly (or even ridiculous) question: Why do recreational distance runners care about speed so much? Background: I went through a phase of long-distance recreational running - I ran lots of half-marathons, marathons, and even the Disney Goofy Challenge for a few years (half marathon on Saturday, full marathon on Sunday). It was all fun! Training was satisfying, the running itself was tough but rew…

We all compare ourselves upwards. Related, you might wonder why a strong cyclist bothers buying a $10k bike. After all, they'd be faster than most people on even the cheapest bike! But they start riding with others, and their peers are faster than them. Their peers have nicer bikes which they come to appreciate / desire. They spend lots of time USING the bicycle, so the "investment" makes more sense. And so on.
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