Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Analyzing one of the best ultra runners out there...
Jim Walmsley is one of the best ultra runners
Though, when people look at clips of him running, they misjudge him as a very inefficient runner.
This is commented by the seemingly high vertical bounce as he comes off the ground.
And this is not necessarily a bad thought process.
Higher vertical oscillation typically relates to increased energy cost in running.
However, we need to understand where the "bounce" comes from.
Is this more from a muscular effort, which takes more energy?
Or more from elastic recoil, which is generated from potential energy already stored during the running cycle.
Instead of looking at simply the bounce, let's look at what caused it.
We can look at the degree of knee bend that occurs from when the foot lands to when the springs get loaded as the foot gets under him.
More knee movement may mean more muscular effort occurring as more active engagement of the quads is involved.
This may be less efficient and something to consider.
However, when you watch Jim Walmsley, you’ll notice that there is not much knee bending occurring, yet still presents with higher vertical oscillation.
This showcases the amazing elastic recoil he has, which allows higher force generation with less effort.
Follow for more running technique tips!
One more nuance is that it is quite reductionist to judge running economy on simply one factor, like knee bend.
Also, looking at the research on running technique can be quite messy.
Point is...there is so much more to this.
-
This is for educational purposes and should not replace medical advice. If you are dealing with persistent running related injuries, I recommend seeing a healthcare professional.
-
#runningtips #runningmechanics
Analyzing one of the best ultra runners out there...
Jim Walmsley is one of the best ultra runners
Though, when people look at clips of him running, they misjudge him as a very inefficient runner.
This is commented by the seemingly high vertical bounce as he comes off the ground.
And this is not necessarily a bad thought process.
Higher vertical oscillation typically relates to increased energy cost in running.
However, we need to understand where the "bounce" comes from.
Is this more from a muscular effort, which takes more energy?
Or more from elastic recoil, which is generated from potential energy already stored during the running cycle.
Instead of looking at simply the bounce, let's look at what caused it.
We can look at the degree of knee bend that occurs from when the foot lands to when the springs get loaded as the foot gets under him.
More knee movement may mean more muscular effort occurring as more active engagement of the quads is involved.
This may be less efficient and something to consider.
However, when you watch Jim Walmsley, you’ll notice that there is not much knee bending occurring, yet still presents with higher vertical oscillation.
This showcases the amazing elastic recoil he has, which allows higher force generation with less effort.
Follow for more running technique tips!
One more nuance is that it is quite reductionist to judge running economy on simply one factor, like knee bend.
Also, looking at the research on running technique can be quite messy.
Point is...there is so much more to this.
-
This is for educational purposes and should not replace medical advice. If you are dealing with persistent running related injuries, I recommend seeing a healthcare professional.
-
#runningtips #runningmechanics
