RUNNERS' NOTES
Runners may be able to improve their
performance by increasing their flexibility.
- According to a U.S. Olympic track coach,
tight muscles present internal resistance to movement. Runners with loose leg muscles are
able to move their legs faster and longer than those with tighter muscles.
By adding just an inch to your
stride length through stretching, you can gain about seven yards per quarter mile.
- For such distance events as a 10,000-meter
run or a 26.2 mile marathon, even a minuscule increase in stride length can make the
difference between a top performance and simply finishing the race.
The following table, based on a pace of 8
minutes per mile, shows the time saved for each event:
| 1 mile |
7.6 seconds |
| 5 K (3.1 miles) |
23.5 seconds |
| 10 K (6.2 miles) |
47 seconds |
| Half Marathon (13.1 miles) |
1 3/4 minutes (105 seconds) |
| Full Marathon (26.2 miles) |
3 1/2 minutes (210 seconds) |
(The above table was prepared by John
Bolus, a Gulf Coast Runner from Naples, Florida.)
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