Sunday, December 12, 2010

In Slow Motion

I'm writing this just before heading out for my last run for the week. It's a lovely afternoon — sunny but not too warm or humid. 15k will see 85 for the week — not too bad considering this crazy time of the year. Dubs asked in a comment on my last post about how I felt the Hadd/Lydiard base-building was going. It's going well thus far!

This week I ran in three 'training races' — a leg of an 8 x 1 mile relay on Tuesday (roped into it, and took it pretty easy, running 7:14). On Thursday night at Vets I ran a 3000, followed an hour and a half later by a 10,000. Felt pretty tired for the last half of the 10k. 14:55 and 51:49.

I've made a short video of the aforementioned relay race. I slowed the runners down to get an idea of how they ran. The times for their mile legs are sub-titled below the runners. I'd like to get hold of a Casio High Speed camera (which uses high frame rates) to do more of this slow motion photography. The music is by My Little Trotsky. As Molly would say, do yourself a favour and check them out!

25 comments:

TokyoRacer said...

Thanks, Ewen, Very interesting. Really, every runner should be videoed and watch to see what their form looks like. I have actually been thinking about this for years and have never taken the trouble to do anything about it. Maybe I can get someone in our club interested in recording our workouts (they are at night, however).
As for the video, I like Rachelle's form. Nick is doing some serious overstriding. Marty seems to have the best form, and is it no coincidence that he is the fastest?

Samurai Running said...

Yes, good stuff Ewen. Gave me some ideas for my slow motion project.

I'm thinking for music I'll play something from the Beatles "White Album" backwards in slow motion too ;)

Runner Susan said...

That was pretty awesome. When I lose 150 pounds, I'll make one of those videos for you to analyze for me. Love the music too!

RICK'S RUNNING said...

good project ewen.
maybe some front and back shots would be usefull too!
Can you film me, then speed it up so I can run 4.28 miles please :]

Anonymous said...

A very interesting video. I agree with TokyoRacer that Marty looks good. It would be great to be able to examine high speed film frame by frame.

Well done with your own base-building. And I continue to be impressed with the rich running environment in ACT

Anonymous said...

Neat video and nice racing. I would love to get some video of myself running -- it'd be great to know how much of an offender I am in the dreaded heel-striking department, and I suspect that I've developed quite a few inefficiencies with my stride... but haven't we all. Gait analysis is interesting stuff!

Andrew(ajh) said...

Yeah, that is a good idea. I too have often thought how good it would be to see a video of my own running form. I'm sure it would be ugly, but a good learning experience.

Ewen said...

Bob, maybe you could get someone to do it for a race? Yes, Marty looks good. He actually ran 4 legs that night, all in similar times. He runs about 2:13 for the marathon. Nick's PB is 2:32 and Scotty's about 2:19. Rachelle runs 800m with a PB of 2:36ish.

Scott, I'm looking forward to seeing that. Vision at different running speeds would be good - from 3 minute ks down to 4:30 or so. The White Album sounds best that way ;)

Susan, thanks. You haven't got 150 pounds to lose! 15 maybe ;)

Rick, I wouldn't have to speed it up too much. I bet you're good for a sub-5 mile... on your downhill course.

Canute, I agree. The high speed video that's out there is great for detail. Normal video is a little blurry when slowed down.

SK, you should do it some time. All you need is a digital camera and a tripod. Heel-striking is not necessarily all that evil. There are fast runners who touch the ground with the heel first.

Andrew, you should do it. I plan to take some video of myself, so that one will set the benchmark for ugliness.

Unknown said...

Very interesting, Ewen. I think it shows each runner has his or her own running style, though I think most were heel strikers? As you say, nothing wrong with that though if it gets them where they want to go!

Black Knight said...

85km per week is a very good mileage. It means that you are always ready for a marathom.
You are right, the video helps a lot.

Dubs said...

Something is acting up w/my computer and I can't see the video (I had some broken links on another page today too). I'll check back!

Glad to hear it is going well! I'm very tempted to try the training sometime, so I'm cheering you along as you try it to see what you think :)

Jog Blog said...

Great video Ewen. It's interesting how if you didn't know before watching the video how good or ordinary the runners were, you wouldn't necessarily be able to pick from the video how fast they are likely to be based on their style(s). The research shows that there are some basic stylistic features which contribute to speed and efficiency but clearly there's room for a lot of individual variation in both style and performance. It all adds to our knowledge bank.

And well done you on a substantial training week. You have already earnt your Xmas pudding!

Ewen said...

Luckylegs, that's right, although style can be modified with lots of work. Even so, the outcome is not guaranteed to make one a faster or less injury-prone runner. For example, Dathan Ritzenhein.

Black Knight, perhaps, but I don't feel ready for a marathon at the moment! My long run is only 20k.

Dubs, hope you get your computer fixed. Will be interested to see what you decide re training. Hadd isn't for everyone.

Jog, yes it's hard to tell about race results by just looking at running form. What I find interesting about the fast runners (Nick, Scotty and Marty) is their tremendous stride length as well as their quick turnover. They get a lot of "push" off the ground.

Jog Blog said...

You are right Ewen. And for us short asses that means we will be forever disadvantaged - read: SLOW! :)

rinusrunning said...

You run a lot this weekand i like de movie and the slow.
You can look good at the runners how they run, nice.
Next time fast movie?.
www.rinusrunning.nl

Robert James Reese said...

Nice work with the video. It's always interesting to see how people's strides really look.

Sling Runner said...

Great video and work on editing too. If you just extend each runners footage to 15 secs, we can calculate the stride rates too (x4):)

Grellan said...

Nice work Ewen. Not too many heel strikers there.

Love2Run said...

I'm disapointed, no Ewen! Good to see you putting up some nice k's. Happy Holidays!

Ewen said...

Jog, I can read... but I'm not reading that you're slow. And you're not as short as some people I drink coffee with ;)

Thanks Rinus. Fast movies are fun too. I'll try and video a short race over summer.

Robert thanks. It is interesting. Also the variation with speed. Trevor looks a lot better at that speed than at his marathon pace (he'd run about 2:46-8 at the moment).

Sling, you're right. I should do a similar thing at the track over an exact distance.

Thanks Grellan.

Mike, according to Scott Brown I need to make myself presentable first by trimming the beard ;) Happy holidays to you too - build a snowman for me!

Dubs said...

OK - the videos are mysteriously working on my laptop again! :) That is neat to see the form.

OK - 3,000, then a 10,000... wow, I used to double like that in college.. I got tired just reading that now... I can feel that milestone birthday aproaching more quickly. Hats off to you!

85 for the week - 85K, right? or is that miles?

Samurai Running said...

What's going on Ewen? Are you writing your next post in "slow motion!"

Ewen said...

Dubs, 85k! I may get up to 110k (70 miles). Yes, it was a tiring double, but I didn't run either race that seriously.

Good one Scott. I've been flat out like a lizard drinking these past few weeks. I know what I want to write about... actually wrote in my mind the first paragraph (which was good), but forgot it. Therein lies a lesson... write good stuff down immediately! Hope to get something published during the Boxing Day Test.

rinusrunning said...

Merry Christmas Ewen!
www.rinusrunning.nl

Ewen said...

Thanks Rinus. Same to you and your family. Build a snow-man for me!

P.S. I'm a week or so behind on reading blogs (no computer in Wagga). Hope you all had a relaxing Christmas and I wish you an enjoyable injury-free year of running in 2011.