As can be guessed from my alter ego and "Face It" image. I'm really a cyclist. I've been convinced to do a tri by a mate. I've been along to some swimming lessons at which a lot of emphasis has been put on lengthening my stroke.
Is the same approach true in running? I.e. should I be increasing my stride length?
As a cyclist I have tight hamstrings so my stride is naturally short. What are the safest ways of increasing stride length and will it give me efficiency improvement?
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Not so sure about the stretching though. When my son was prescribed stretching exercises (hamstrings downwards) last year to deal with his Achilles tendinitis, he was told to do multiple repetitions and hold them for a short time. That came from a very competent NHS physio.
I always try and stretch calves and hams after running anyway as I seem to use these bits differently in running and cycling.
One other point, the stride length should be dictated by the back leg, i.e. the power of the 'toe off'. You should not look to increase stride by reaching out and overstriding with the front leg, this should always be landing underneath your body otherwise you run the risk of injury, particularly to the knee.
It sounds like a similar thing to cycling cadence increase, i.e. something that naturally changes over time.
He 'couldn't be arsed' to do any poncy stretching (from the old school of just getting on and doing it!), and, annoyingly, still got around in 2.12.
But I did think stretching might have helped prevent the calf probs.