Part 3, Race Kick: Tips And Workouts For Shifting Gears

By Malindi Elmore

[Parts 1 and 2 of “It’s All About The Kick” can be found here and here.]

Not all races are run at even paces, which is frustrating for people who are focused on running fast! However, slow starts, surges, bumps, jostles, elbows, trips, and dramatic sprint finishes are part of what makes races exciting and unpredictable. This is the part of the race that makes it a sport and not simply “who can run fast?” Embrace the unpredictable and go with the flow as much as possible (easier said than done at times!) – and always keep your focus on a strong finish!

July 20, 2015 /  3
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Part 2, Race Kick: Strength Or Speed?

By Malindi Elmore

[Part 1 of “It’s All About The Kick” can be found here.]

Many track runners think they must possess raw speed to win with a kick. This is simply not true. Kicking is often a relative term, and can almost be explained better as who slows down the least. The faster the pace, the more likely this is true. Pedestrian or championship “sit and kick” races are their own category and stranger things have been known to happen, so for the sake of this argument, let’s assume that the majority of the race is at a pace appropriate for the quality of the field assembled. (In Part 3  of this series I’ll discuss “Shifting Gears” for championship race kicks).

July 13, 2015 /  5