Speed, Essay Example

After viewing the videos and reading over the article entitled “Validity and Reliability of Measurement of Kinematic Parameters in a Running Speed Test” by Beata Makaruk, Hubert Makaruk, Tomasz Sacewicz, Tadeusz Makaruk, Stanislaw Kedra, and Barbara Dlugolecka (2009), it is clear that endurance, energy, strength, technique and mobility are important aspects of speed and how fast a runner is going to be. The article was written to test the validity and reliability of a speed test. This test involved “participation of female students (n=16) of the University of Physical Education in Warsaw, who were not involved in competitive sports” (Makaruk et al., 2009, p. 86). According to the article, the highest interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) “were recorded in the case of running time, step length and time of contact with the ground” (p. 86).

The results of the test show that the “greatest variability was observed in the case of maximum speed and the flight time, while the lowest variability was recorded in the case of the running time and the knee joint angle at the same time of take off of the foot” (Makaruk et al, 2009, p. 87). The videos that were watched indicate that the speed of a runner depends on many things. It depends on stride length, stride frequency, mobility, strength, muscle fibers, energy, and technique. According to the videos, speed training should be progressive, building on endurance, technique, and acceleration. Many of the videos speak about knee and ankle position when assessing speed just as the article does. It is stated that athletes must take the first step explosively as it may be the only one an athlete gets when it comes to speed. According to Bompa (2009) “acceleration is the ability to increase movement velocity in a minimum amount of time” (p. 315). If a runner is not able to accelerate effectively, his or her speed will be affected. This is shown throughout the videos and within the article discussed. I agree that the more endurance, mobility, technique and power the runner has, the faster the runner will be. The basic idea to this is conditioning and training. If a runner can learn to accelerate fasters and build his or her endurance and technique, he or she should have no problem learning to adjust other components that will allow him or her to run faster. The videos and Bompa (2009) discuss the importance of interval training as well and this, I believe, is important for a runner in order to develop a steady endurance that will help them learn to use their muscles and bodies in a correct manner to help develop speed (p. 302). The videos and the article gave me insight on the importance that endurance, mobility, acceleration, strength, stride length, stride frequency and energy all have on speed and I agree that each of these are important to learn, focus on, and practice in order to develop a speed that is fast enough for the runner.

References

Bompa, T. O., & Haff, G. G. (2009). Endurance training. In Periodization (5th ed., pp. 287-314).

Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Bompa, T. O., & Haff, G. G. (2009). Speed and agility training. In G. G. Haff (Ed.),

Periodization (5th ed., pp. 287-314). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Makaruk, B., Makaruk, H., Sacewicz, T., Makaruk, T., Kedra, S., & Dlugolecka, B. (2009).

Validity and reliability of measurement of kinematic parameters in a running speed test. Pol. J. Sport Tourism, 16, 85-92.