How to tell if you're overstriding (Read 1355 times)

This idea occurred to me as I ran over several icy patches this morning.

If your foot slips forward on a patch of ice, you're probably overstriding.

If your foot slips backward, you're probably not overstriding.

What do you guys think?

How many steps per minute were you taking at the time?

I try to avoid ice unless it comes in a glass for my Diet Coke.

This idea occurred to me as I ran over several icy patches this morning.

 

If your foot slips forward on a patch of ice, you're probably overstriding.

 

If your foot slips backward, you're probably not overstriding.

 

What do you guys think?

Well, not necessarily...  Yes, there IS a point where you are actually over-striding and you sticking your foot way too far in the front (hense, your foot slip forward on ice) might be a good indication.  However, there's also stride frequency to take into account.  Suppose your stride length is 5 feet; that's hardly "over-striding".  But if your stride frequency is, say, 120 (that's VERY slow), then you'll probably bound around and sticking your foot out forward.

The thing is; I've noticed, on this message board, or probably more than 3/4 of people, take notice of "over-striding" and very few talk about improving stride frequency (there IS a thread here about stride frequency though).  In other words, even if it "appears" to be over-striding, I would NOT jump to conclusion and try to shorten the stride length.  That way, you may lose valuable asset to be able to run faster.  As a matter of fact, unless one is taking an 8-foot strides, I would not deliberately try to shorten the stride length--to me, that's defeating the purpose (of course, I know some people might argue that they are not running to improve their times...).  You have nice long strides; well, try to keep it and find the way to utlize it WITHOUT making it an over-striding.  To me, logical thing to do is to increase the stride frequency and see what happens.

 

Well, not necessarily...  Yes, there IS a point where you are actually over-striding and you sticking your foot way too far in the front (hense, your foot slip forward on ice) might be a good indication.  However, there's also stride frequency to take into account.  Suppose your stride length is 5 feet; that's hardly "over-striding".

Nobby, I thought "over-striding" meant that the runner is applying force in a forward direction against the ground when the foot lands. This is applying the brakes, which obviously slows you down and affects running economy.

With this in mind, I don't see how stride length enters into the question. Doesn't stride length increase at faster speeds, and decrease at slower speeds?

That said, I agree that increasing stride frequency is a much better way to avoid overstriding than, say, concentrating on shortening your stride. If you increase stride frequency at the same pace, your stride will shorten automatically.

 I don't think you can tell by the direction that you are slipping.

You are moving forward so even if you strike the ground directly under your center, you can slip for if you lose traction. In order to move forward, you push off and propel your self with you rear leg and if your foot slips backwards, its also because you lost traction while you were pushing.

 

Burnt Toast, yes, you are moving forward (I hope) when running. But, if you look at what happens with the foot of a runner who is not over-striding, the foot should already be moving backward (in relation to the runner) before it contacts the ground. If you can find a super-slow-mo video of a runner on a treadmill, you can confirm this.

You don't "lose traction" on ice in a random direction. If you lose traction in a certain direction, it's because you were applying force in that direction. If you are applying force in a forward direction, this means that you are applying the brakes, so to speak. Don't you agree?

I don't think that a heel striker necessarily is more prone to over striding than a fore/mid-foot striker.  Often I overstride and I land on the forefoot.   There seemingly is a very small angle at which a footstrike happens for each individual that results in the least amount of impact, and since individuals have different biomechanics there is no standard. 

The crux is the result which I find myself now, an IT band problem.  I'd say in the long run that is the way someone can tell they are overstriding.   Most likely barefoot running will help people find their best biomechanics(and yes most people will cease being heel strikers).   This is the best evidence for modifying ones running gait to match the natural gait. 

For this same reason when people start getting faster, increasing mileage, etc. they have injuries because biomechanical problems are so much more evident.  

I fail to see how this works properly.  Too many factors, and you are modifying a critical element, namely the surface being run upon.  I don't think you can accurately assess stride mechanics based on which direction you fall if you slip on the ice while running.  If so, then I run with my right leg pushing towards me left side.  Or maybe it's because I was going around a corner.  No, it has to be my stride.

I fail to see how this works properly.  Too many factors, and you are modifying a critical element, namely the surface being run upon.  I don't think you can accurately assess stride mechanics based on which direction you fall if you slip on the ice while running.  If so, then I run with my right leg pushing towards me left side.  Or maybe it's because I was going around a corner.  No, it has to be my stride.

Not trying to assess the whole of stride mechanics, here, just one factor: is the runner applying the brakes (i.e., overstriding)?

And I wasn't referring to someone running on, say, a frozen pond, where lack of traction is fairly constant. That would certainly be "modifying a critical element," as you say. The situation I was trying to use as an example is someone running along on a dry surface, and then one foot comes down on an isolated patch of ice.

Obviously if you're running around a corner, that changes things. My example also implied running in a straight line.

Do you agree that the runner's foot will slide in the direction of force, if it slides at all?

 

Another great example. When you overstride or apply the brakes, you are fighting the motor's attempt to move the treadmill belt, and briefly exceeding its capacity to do so.

my home treadmill helps in this regard. It has a cross bar at knee height, and if I stride too far, my knees hit it. It really doesn't fell too good when that happens