“utfootball”
We all know we aren’t “Charlie Francis” OR “Ben Johnson” on this BBS>
YOu put up your post because you wanted to see if we’d notice anything that could help someone who was already moving.
Theres always something. And Ill give an example.
When I was in HS my school 4x100 relay could’ve at least MADE it to state every single year. Not saying they couldve won every year. But they couldve made it out.
The team downplayed the importance of “acceleration zones” on the 4x100 relay and baton handoffs.
Because of this the 4x100 relay was usually adding up each guys 100M time and adding on more for error. So 4 11.0 sec guys ar running 44.2, 44.8, 45.0 for the relay.
I mentioned it to some people, but of course people are always trying to do the minimum to get by and won’t listen to someone that may not have been naturally blessed as them.
In any case, they missed what 3 out of 4 years.
I was pretty much trying to say, if you do it perfect you can have a 1 sec or even greater improvement over doing it “naturally”.
instead you have:
- People running up on peoples back.
- 4 strides of accelerations before a handoff
- Runnning past handoff zones
- “Probing” hand as wasting 1 second of time on an exchange.
Acceleration zones and good handoffs would allow 4 11.00 runners to make a 4x100 relay of as good as 42.25 seconds and 4 10.00 runners to run a 38.0 seconds. you know what Im saying.
That when you do it right, the time is greater than the sum of the wholes.
Its why the 4 10.00 runners will put up greater than 40.00 if they are at all doing it right.
The 4x100 relays at my school where often 4 times each guys 100m time or worse!
So four 11.00 second guys putting up 45.0, 44.8, or 44.2, but never 43.00 or 42.50.
The same was the result on the 4x200 relay!
What Im saying is that often time, people that are better at the technical analysis might not be the one who can perform the skill. And that you have to be open minded and logically thinking to get the best.
In your brothers case you say he runs a 6.5 sec 55M time and a 10.80 sec 100M, I caught later these are fully automated. Good times.
You hope as we do that he’s not MAXED out.
You posted because if somehow you guys could get that 6.5 sec to 6.3 or 6.2 in one year of work and shave .2 or so off an already good 40 time its only going to be good for him. Another 4" or 5" of vertical jump, even if it took a year to notice and you where only reward with 2 or 3" for 6 months of hard work would be worth it.
SO we point out our observations.
Remember that 100M time that tie the world record from the jamaican sprinter earlier this year.
What did we all say, an unholy top end charge from 60M forward, probably putting out one of the highest measured “velocities” by a human being ever.
However I watched closely. The start and first 5 to 6 steps sucked for world class.
I had to clarify that, because that start and accelration for most of us here wouldve been outstanding.
I made my observations. It appeared that the start and first 4 or 5 steps where more of a stumble. And the guy was already playing catchup.
In retrospect Ben Johnson with what was considered at the time an “unorthodox” start was already nearly a full stride ahead after 4 steps!
That the 100M the 55M and even as short as the 40 yard dash is a sequence of acceleration “phases”. A “phase” might have been as short as 6 strides, and that even the most perfect human sprinter hasn’t put it all the way together yet.
That each phase would be consist of a trunk and head positioning. A foot strike point ( behind the body or slightly in front ). And leg turnover might even change from the middle 10-20 strides to the second 20-40 strides.
That it would’ve been impossible to put it all together without a 2nd set of eyes.
IE: without cameras, film, coaches, “unnatural” training techniques. We’d be much closer to Jesse Owens for top speed than we are today.
That between each phase is a transition.
That having one phase “IE popping up into sprinting position and stride for your top speed” is equivilent to running a funny car down the strip in its top gear only! No one would ever do it if given a choise.
My thing is this.
MOst of the progress which is being seeen is based off the success and failures of others before you. Its the fact we can study and improve upon people that came before us!
So yes. You guys have some improvement that can be made.
That the 6.5 second 55M can be improved to 6.3, or even 6.2.
That the work required and thoughtfullness is going to have to be better, harder and smarter than others trying to do the same thing.
That the training required to do so might be something unorthodox or something even old Charlie Francis threw away or hasn’t thought of because its “stupid”.
That some things are going to have to be done that are “unnatural”, Im not talking about roids - but plyos, weighted vests, parachutes, “unnatural” structured diet and recovery.
And that yes. Most of us will never put it all together, because its simply too paiinstaking, detailed and physically painfull.
Shoot for the moon, and if you fall short you should still make it into orbit.
And once again, I did not like the start, or first 4 or 5 steps after it. That the rate of turnover was high.
Compare to someone that is structured more like him. Not that they are 5’7", but 5’7" with similar leg length, trunk length, upper and lower leg lengths and even foot size.
And shoot small. If your bro could get 2" or 3" more out of each step, without trying harder or using more energy because he is physically stronger, more powerful and can manage his energy that much better he’d be faster.
Easiest right now is to start out with the start.