15 replies to this topic

[speedmeup]

So I'm down at the track this -arvo for my fortnightly muck - around with some running buddies-  4 x 1200m intervals.. super boring. and we see some kids doing the long jump.

I say, look out kids - let grandad show you how its done (well I'm not really a grandad - but anyone over the age of 35 to kids.. you get the picture. ). I gets a good and fast run up, going like the wind (or a minor breeze at least), hit the board, leap into the air with great gusto and go about 3 metres.. hmm m let that be a lesson to you! not. So a couple of my mates (male and female) have a go and a good laugh .. and yes were all as bad as each other.

Anyone out there know the secret mysteries of the long jump and willing to share? .. how do the Olypmians do that "walking on air" thing?

[cjr]

You did well to survive - last time I tried something like that I twinged a hammie...and to think that I was the U11 long jump champion at school - the crowning glory of my athletic career to date

[Davo]

I should imagine you need very fast-twitch fibres, something which most middle and long distance runners don't have in abundance.
Personally I'd be very wary about doing something like that: it would be so easy to pull a muscle.

[speedmeup]

Hi Davo, as your post-script states - 'pushing the limits of what seems possible is what makes life fun!"... after running 50+ km a week up hills and over rocky trails, I reckon a little jump into a sand-pit shouldn'tt do me too much damage.

Seriously, anyone out there with some formal long-jump training care to enlighten us on the techniques?

[CessnockRunner]

Never had formal training so could never master the "hitch kick" but got out to about 5.5m at high school. Got beat by about 10cm at a regional primary athletics carnival by a lad called Glen Carroll who later became one of the first aussies to jump over 8m so that's my claim to fame. Speed is definitely essential to get the big jumps but technique & strength are what eventually sorts them out however I recall the USA female (was it Marion Jones?) who had great speed but terrible technique & still managed to be right up there just via the speed. Like some of you, my long distance running over the last 12yrs or so has slowed me down & lost any ability to long jump. i just run through the water puddles now haha.

Cheers, Grahame

[Davo83]

yep, i used to do it at little athletics and at every school carnival, and my best was around 5.92m with no proper training. It seems like a fair bit of technique is required, as i was told i went too vertical from people watching me jump.

Never managed to break the 6m mark and that was with a mid 11 100m time and a 91cm running vertical leap..

Great fun though i loved the field events (except discus).. Used to marvel how awesome carl lewis and mike powell were back in the good old days..

[speedmeup]

cool, speed is fun!  ..  .. I can get to 80m in well under 10 sec, .. never ran a proper hundred so not sure on that one.

but hitting that board with the correct timing, without stuttering.. ? .. something i missed out on when the co-ordination gene was being handed out.

used to go alright at high-jump, got over 180  at highschool, but never tried it since.

[Paul Every]

 CessnockRunner, on 01 August 2012 - 06:23 PM, said:

.... I recall the USA female (was it Marion Jones?) who had great speed but terrible technique & still managed to be right up there just via the speed.

Unfortunately, it wasn't "just via the speed" that got Jones up there.

Credit to all you fast twitchers though, flying through the air like that must be such an exhilerating sensation.

Edited by Paul Every, 01 August 2012 - 07:55 PM.

[Easy Tiger]

I'm no expert but was decent and seem to remember being told to increase speed throughout the approach with hips high and even, i think of it as a mix of bounding and running. Prepare for launch, hitting the maximum speed you can jump preferably jumping off your least favoured foot using your strong leg to drive upwards. Enjoy the flight :-)

[Davo]

 speedmeup, on 31 July 2012 - 09:46 PM, said:

Hi Davo, as your post-script states - 'pushing the limits of what seems possible is what makes life fun!"... after running 50+ km a week up hills and over rocky trails, I reckon a little jump into a sand-pit shouldn'tt do me too much damage.

Seriously, anyone out there with some formal long-jump training care to enlighten us on the techniques?

Fair comment, Speedmeup.
And CessnockRunner, it's fun to splash through the puddles!

[MG4R]

Last few steps are usually quicker/shorter for propulsion purposes. A lot of dynamic plyometric work and obviously natural talent. Momentum, momentum, momentum!

[speedmeup]

Funny about the leg preference, I'm right handed but have always jumped off my left leg .. go figure?

[Pink Lady]

 Easy Tiger, on 01 August 2012 - 08:13 PM, said:

I'm no expert but was decent and seem to remember being told to increase speed throughout the approach with hips high and even, i think of it as a mix of bounding and running. Prepare for launch, hitting the maximum speed you can jump preferably jumping off your least favoured foot using your strong leg to drive upwards. Enjoy the flight :-)

Now that is interesting. Because in both high jump and long jump I took off from the foot from which I got the most drive - elevation.

Elevation is essential in the long jump if you want to get the space to do the hitch kick. If you can visualise it you will see that it is impossible to move your legs in any kind of motion if you are travelling close to the ground.

[Paul Every]

 speedmeup, on 01 August 2012 - 10:06 PM, said:

Funny about the leg preference, I'm right handed but have always jumped off my left leg .. go figure?

I'm way less of an expert* than Easy Tiger, but his advice of launching from the least-favoured foot makes sense.

Most people have relatively superior proprioception and stability in their least-favoured ankle and leg. These skills are developed on our non-favoured leg when we use our favoured leg for kicking. Incremental development resulting from all those childhood games of soccer and footy.

*My long jump career entailed 3 years of Little Aths, retiring comprehensively defeated at age 10.

[Ali1977]

You've got me reminiscing now....

I wasn't great at it and while I can barely remember last week (never mind 20 years ago) speed hitting the board and elevation were always the key things that we were told. Sounds simple when you say it like that...

I always preferred and was better at the triple jump...but not sure if it was just the fear of not even reaching the pit that enhanced my performance!

[speedmeup]

Congratulations to Mitchell Watt, a super effort. . !