| Recovery: "The Drive Phase" |
| According to Tom Tellez, Head Track Coach at both University Of Houston and Santa Monica Track Clubs recovery accounts for 5% of the race. As previously mentioned (The Start: Breaking Static Inertia), the front or fore leg flexed in the blocks concentrically contracts extending the leg pushing the body forward into a steep fall. Obviously, the picture linked is an exaggeration of a point that should be well taken. Recovery is the support phase where you either make the conscious effort to continue or stop the movement by continuuing to flail and pump the arms or flail and just simply drop them to the side. The right leg that you see (pictured above) eccentrically pulled through (cycling) in a fashion one would do when riding a bicycle. Notice how the opposite arms correspond with the action of the opposite leg (right arm is fully extended with the left leg - left arm and right cycled through flexed at the elbow and knee). The start, recovery, and drive phase are all relevant to the runner's ability to establish and maintain their maximum natural stride length. Just as important as it is for tires to make constant contact with the ground (positive-traction) ...so it is the case of the runner's feet making contact with the ground (traction). The start, recovery, and drive aspects of the running the running process must be smooth in transition... transition to the acceleration phase which according to Tellez accounts for 64% of the race. |
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