Table of Contents
Table of Contents for How To Sprint: Understanding Biomechanics
Here’s the planned Table of Contents. This will change as I start writing. But at the moment, this is the rough plan. You may figure out what to expect in some of these chapters. For others, the title may not be enough. It all makes sense in my head, I promise. Over the following weeks and months, it will hopefully make sense to you, too.
How To Sprint: Understanding Biomechanics
Table of Contents (Draft)
Part 1: Sprinting — How Hard Can It Be?
It’s Time to Start Sprinting • Force, Acceleration, and Maximum Velocity
1.1 Acceleration
1.2 Maximum Velocity
1.3 You Push The Ground. You Don’t Pull It!
The Phases of a Sprint Stride
2.1 Ground Contact and Flight Phases
2.2 Stance, Drive, and Recovery Phases
Velocity: Stride Length and Stride Frequency
Velocity: Contact Length and Contact Time
More Force, Less Time
Part 2: Maximum Velocity Biomechanics
The Biomechanics of Maximum Velocity Sprinting
6.1 Pushing The Ground Down Below You • Keeping Your Body Up In The Air
6.2 Pushing Forward Just A Tiny Bit
The Foot and The Knee During Ground Contact • The Stiff Spring
The Foot Landing Position • Step Off The Brakes
The Upper Body • Driving Forward
The Knee At Mid-Recovery Phase • Peak Knee Flexion
The Lower Leg During The Late Recovery Leg • Striking The Ground
The Leg During The Drive Phase • Springing Forward
The Foot During The Early-Recovery Phase • The Foot Pushes The Knee Up
The Arm Swings
Sprinting When Fatigue Sets In
Part 3: Acceleration Biomechanics
The Biomechanics of Acceleration
16.1 Pushing The Ground Back Behind You • Acceleration
16.2 Avoiding Falling Flat On Your Face
16.3 The Gradual Transition To Maximum Velocity
The First Few Steps
17.1 Standing Starts, Three-Point Starts, and Four-Point Block Starts
17.2 Push, Push, Push Rather Than Quick, Quick, Quick
Part 4: Training and Racing
Strength
Posture and Positioning
Timing
Acceleration, Maximum Velocity, and Deceleration in the 100m
Curve Running