very good/interesting speed article

[KirkB]

You two boys ... ahem ... are playing nicely, so I'm not about to get in the middle of this ... especially since my run wasn't my strongest suit ... and I have no experience in the use of the mid mark chart ... but ...

What I get out of reading both your posts is that you need to be able to run consistently BEFORE the mid mark chart becomes valuable ... and you can't run consistently UNLESS you use the mid mark chart. So which comes first ... the chicken or the egg?

I would think that it's a bit of both ... and by the way ... I'm considering running for Mayor of Vancouver.

If your run is grossly INCONSISTENT (i.e. you haven't learned how to run yet) ... then the chart isn't going to be that reliable for you ... you need to learn the basics of running first.

On the other hand, you won't know if your run is PERFECTLY CONSISTENT or not until you actually begin using the mid mark chart and you find that your steps are "on" and your takeoff is "on".

I would think that when you first start vaulting, you should (a) "learn how to run properly" and not stress over the mid mark chart.

Then, as you become a "proficient runner" ... whatever that means ... you should (b) start using the chart.

I will not conjecture to guess how many weeks, months or years you should spend on (a) before you advance to (b). That's for you two to debate. I would guess that it varies widely depending on the athlete.

Play nice, now!

Kirk

[rainbowgirl28]

The mid-mark chart can help a coach identify which part of the run is being inconsistent. If an athlete is all over the place on their mid, then you know it is the first part of their run. If they are fairly consistent on their mid, but their takeoff is all over the place, you know it has more to do with issues with their pole drop/takeoff/other end of run problem.

I find using a mid incredibly helpful with beginning vaulters whose runs are all over the place. It gives me a much clearer idea of what is going on.

[chasing6]

Forget about where their mid is just teach them how to run properly first.

if the "MID" (check) point is not correct the technique will never be correct..

Sounds like "the chicken and the egg" to me. Here's what I'm getting out of this whole thing:

Although I believe the Mid chart to be invaluable for running "technique" during the approach run, if an athlete can't run with the correct mechanics off the runway (and without a pole) then they will not get the full benefit of the mid and will not find as high a level of success. To me proper sprinting(/speed) mechanics are to be learned off of the runway and then reinforced and molded into the correct approach with the mid chart on the runway. Correct me if I'm wrong DJ, but your chart was not formulated to teach people the basic mechanics of how to sprint, but instead the mechanics of the approach run.

With all this being said, I'm just trying to sort out whether or not there is just a miscommunication here or an actual misinterpretation of the "theory" behind it all.

[dj]

Good morning

I’m not trying to “fan’ any flames… and I know my response was a quick "knee jerk" reaction…

I also know that Rick is an outstanding coach and I don’t believe you will find to many places where we differ.. his “teaching” procedures are “tried” and are at the leading edge… HE IS A TEACHER… the best.. and there is a correct order.

I myself teach the vaulter to: run without the pole..run with the pole.. plant takeoff without the pole and plant takeoff with the pole.. swing without the pole and swing with the pole.

In teaching (learning) there are some axioms to think about.

1. "Whole part whole" method of teaching and learning.
2. Progressive overload.
3. The SAID principle. “Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands”

Number three tells us the body will adapt to what we let it adapt to. If we sit in front of the computer we will get GOOD at sitting in front of the computer.

There is a stride length and stride frequency associate with “speed” and a technique associate with that stride length and stride frequency and a specific amount of “force” associated with that speed (stride length and stride frequency).

We can run “incorrectly” and dial up any number of stride lengths even to the point of bounding some pretty good distances. To establish the frequency for a specific length takes progressive over load.

Now back to my point. How may times have you heard a coach or vaulter say “no matter what I do I continue to stretch under!” I come down the runway, plant and takeoff and my coach says “come on!!! you did it again.. all you have to do is to get your last step down and your plant up.” Your coach becomes a broken record and you go crazy..

Say you vault for Rick and have been taught the best way to run. Why would you “not” continue that technique through the takeoff? If you are “out” you will undoubtedly stretch to reach the takeoff, and if you begin the stretch 4 to 6 steps out you will start to lose speed lose your sprint/speed “technique” and lose more speed and ultimately stretch under. The correction is the “correct” stride length and the "correct" stride frequency for the last six steps.

Now if you are too close on your run at the “MID”, most athletes have the ability to “quicken” up the steps and keep pretty good sprint form and save the jump, even if they do slow down a little. Most of the time you can takeoff correctly from chopping and being tall but you will have allmost no chance of transferring the body mass onto the pole correctly from a low and stretched takeoff position.

The “MID” chart gives you a “tool” to help create the correct technique.. help your coach help you keep within the correct rhythm pattern of "length and frequency" of the speed you need to grip where you are gripping. So if you stretch under your coach will know it was because of long strides and not because you “just have to stretch under” or not because you don’t know the correct technique for speed.

Sorry for my “quick” first response Rick.. and proper run must be taught from the begining. But the “rhythm” of the last six steps needs to be introduced from the beginning of the teaching day as part of the running, “speed”, technique process.

dj

[chasing6]

Thank you for the clarification (and extra explanation). This is pretty much the response I expected, although much more in depth, and I agree with you 100%.

[JMP8928]

Good article.

One point that should be made, and i'm not sure if it has been yet, is the Kenetic Energy Equation.
i think that the author is correct, in that body weight will have an effect on the sprinter. But, as pole vaulters, we need to find that happy body weight medium where we are the fastest, but still a massive enough object to have an impact on the KE equation. ( .5MV^2)

Vaulter A who weighs 60 kilos and runs at 9 M/S will not deliver as much force as a 65 kilo vaulter running the same speed.

Velocity is by far the most important factor in our equation, but mass should not be ignored either. as long as either number is going up, and neither goes down. You're doing a good thing for your pole vaulting.