I'm a somewhat taller person than average at 6'8". I always always led to believe that people of my height are disadvantaged in long distance running because of something to do with their centre of gravity. Recently someone else told me that's not true. Does anyone know if there is any scientific proof either way?
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I am 6ft 3ins and a shave under 16st since I spent the past year weight training.
I have entered the world of running since the beginning of 2012 and progressing steadily.
The only thing that I feel is a disadvantage is the added weight that comes with being taller. Even at my most slender I am around 15st. I have to wear heavily cushioned shoes to avoid shin problems but apart from that I have no gripes.
Though there is still a fair difference between 6ft 3 and 6ft 8.
Craig Mottram is an elite distance runner and is over six foot, although that does seem to be the exception
I think there's something in "Lore of Running" about it being harder to cool down as colume goes up faster than surface area.
The only other thing that springs to mind is some very tall people may have Marfan's syndrome which can affect joints and possibly circulation.
I'm 6ft 4in and I think the only real disadvantage is that you are bound to weigh more than someone who is shorter.
I also tend to think that it is harder to run at very low heart rates because your stride becomes too short and inefficient, but I am probably just using this as an excuse! I think with long legs there is a point where it is more efficient to walk fast than run slow.
I watched a program about James Cracknell doing the Marathon Des Sables last night. They tested him and Mohamad Ahansal, the previous winner of MDS, in the lab and they both had the same VO2 Max. But James is 6ft 4 and the other guy was 5ft 2; guess which one is better at running? During the test Mohamed lost 0.5kg in sweat and Cracknell lost 3.5kg!
Being tall is not a big disadvantage, but is a disadvantage none the less. Still its better to be tall and skinny than medium height and built like a rugby player on steroids.
I can't find a height profile to back this up, but watching the Seoul marathon the other day Wilson Loyanae won in a time of 2:05:37 and he sure wasn't the shortest man in the field.
(He was also slim, young and KENYAN, so I don't think height is everything!)
As such IKFY, I suspect that at 6ft 8 you probably are at a disadvantage compared to a person of more average height.
Having said that, I'm 5ft 9 and run occasionally with a guy who is 6 ft 4' and the difference in our stride length and cadence is extraordinary. He lollops along, I'm working hard, and the only time I feel smug is on the hills as I find them a lot easier than he does (probably down to lower weight and lower centre of gravity)...
6 foot 2, 27 marathons started age 36 (PB 3:52 at age 38), 1 ultra. Age affects you more! Speaking as a mathematician/scientist that stuff about centre of gravity seems specious. Forget all this... if you want to do your marathon, in your time, and your place, then do it! Go enjoy your running.
KK