Boston Marathon 2011 Slow Motion Women's Winner

Kilel (closest to camera), Cherop and Davila, 0.5 miles from the finish. Shot at 300fps.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Boston
• Women
• 2011
• Winner

[jpinman1]

The third runner may be touching down with what looks like "heel strike", but she doesn't put all her weight on it until it is under her. You don't get to the elite levels by heel striking.

[TheSwingingSword]

White girl lands on her heels no wonder she's behind the Africans...

[kg062007]

geez long stride!

[lsfowler1]

Great Video. At the 25.7 mile mark it is hard to be too critical of running form. I thought she was about to heel strike to but she quickly rotates her foot where she lands pretty much flat footed. She has dramatically improved in each of her marathons so I am guessing a major road marathon victory is soon to come for her.

[Cloxxki]

Why would you consider changing your technique if you were just seconds away from a $150.000 prize? You're doing great! Never change an almost-winning team! :-)

I'm working on my running. Not sure pose is THE way for sure, but I am sure it's mighty close. 34y/o, keeping up with the tireless 17y/o talented runners at the track. I used to be a POS runner at 17, but man did I ever have heaps of energy. If only I would have known then what I know now...

[thebbk]

The problem with comparisons like this is that it insinuates that the difference between these 3 is all in the way they land. In other words, it's easy to jump to the conclusion that the first lady won simply because of her foot strike is supposedly more efficient. What if other things such as VO2 and other factors were greater in the first runner? Then what? These women are each doing what works for them. We've seen winners of this race who were heel strikers (hello Meb Keflezighi).

[CoachKMac]

Also, relative to the first two ladies, Davila strikes forward of her center of gravity.

[splaticon5]

@howdysir Hard to say, but I hope you're right :) I find it somewhat hard to believe that a top marathoner would heel strike. I don't think they would be top marathoners if they did, but at the end of a long race, technique will probably break down somewhat, even for the best runners. The first girl definitely has the best technique.

[howdysir]

@splaticon5 I originally thought the same thing, but it appears as though her foot plantarflexes just before impact with the ground. somewhere between a midfoot strike and a heelstrike. could be better, but could be much worse