Run up

[JB]

im starting out this season and just wondered how long most peoples run ups are ? ive only been doing jav since august alst year and have hence never competed, and only trained with juniors or occasional seniors. Its my first meet this weekend and i'll be using a run up about 4 javelin lenghts long, am i going to look like a pillock ? or is this about normal ?

[SCater]

until you are more confident use as little or as much of a run up as you feel you can handle.

Its all about time with the run up, if you dont think youll use a full blown run up to your advantage then dont...ive seen alot of new throwers that try to do these huge fast run up then they just either slow right down or stop and throw it at the end. total waste of energy. and it doesnt really go anywhere. (saying that i was one of them but theres always some abnormal beast that could chuck the jav far without a run up )

i cant remember off the top of my head what length my run up is now, im used to running on my track and i can guess the length and its usually about right.

ill measure it out tomorrow and let you know ;D

[Administrator]

My run up is 9 javelin lengths. I find this about right but still can't seem to manage to run up eactly the same twice which is one of my biggest problems. Most of the time I just use a check marker to start my sidestep approach and stutter into that instead!

[motherhen]

I do a nine stride run up. Which if I remeber correctly last season for me was 3 3/4 javs then 2 1/2. So just over 6 javelin lengths in total

I always mark down where my withdrawl is not so much for a check point anymore but useful when need to do an emergancy 5 strider on a bad day!

[Lovett]

Your run up should be what ever fills comfortable for you, 4 javs is very short but if you feel ok then go for it. Once you get more confident on the run way then build up....also you should work on your measured run up in training, you dont have to throw, just run threw....we train all year round for this event, so the last thing you want is to fail a throw that could have won you a comp or got you a pb.

[sam]

right what you need to do is this....

stand about 1metre before the line facing back down the runway.
do 5 or 7 crossteps and try to stop.
Put a trainer to the side of the runup where you stopped.
stand level with the trainer (still facing back down the runway). start with your left foot level with the trainer.
Run for about 7 or 9 steps and remember what foot you were on when you landed on your 7th/9th step and put a trainer there.
face the throwing sector with you 7th/9th step foot level with the trainer and run for the required steps. you should make sure that you hit the next trainer (check mark) with your left foot and then do the 5/7 crossteps and throw.....
work on it untill you have enough room to throw and you don't cross the line.. and so that you are comfortable with the rythm..

[tomd]

Run up should feel comfortable so that you can accelerate into the penultimate stride with relaxation and confidence.

[Mack]

I have had measured run ups in the past, but I get lazy now. I don't measure and start where I feel and start my cross overs when it fells right.

I think I read some where (maybe true, maybe not) JanZ did the same thing.... I don't know why....

All I can say is don't have it too long, a general mark I give for the guys I coach is the ''Pull through mark'' (white dot) to start cross overs, and then take it back from there.

[lou]

hey could u help me as i jst gess my run up at the moment i no that im ment to do 5 cross overs and a run but i dnt no where my cross overs start or where my run starts from! as you may imagin this proves quite difficalt when it comes to attualy throwing as i throw from a diffrent point each time! so any tips will be alot of help!! thanks
louise

[Lovett]

What maybe a good idea is when your in training, put a shoe where you would normally withdraw the jav from and put another shoe where you would start from.

Then work on this run up so you are giving yourself enough space to recover at the end of the throw.

Keep praticing this run up untill you feel comfitable, move the shoes back and forward if and when you need to. Then when it feels right measure it by either foot steps or javelin lentghs....but make sure you pratice it alot before you try it in competitions as you dont wanna fail a big throw or throw too far from the line. (Those last few words sound a bit familiar....i've done that in my last two comps)

[Susie]

I find it really hard to do a long run-up and usually throw off a seven stride sideways run-up.....I got all my P.Bs that way....Having a long run-up allows me to pick up speed but I find that I rush my technique....I'm gonna try and do a long run up at the over the season but as Ant says its gonna take loads of practice!

[Mack]

I am working on the run ups of the guys I train.
I have started with the standing throw and work back.

What I meaan is do a standing throw about a meter from the line. Once you have warmed up enoughstart cross overs from the white dot the judges use for measuring....(pull the tap through the line) It's at the same place every track you go to. Work on the cross overs and throwing from 1 meter from the line.... if it ends up too close move the start of the cross overs back a little... using Ants shoe technique.

When you are comfortable with that move it back two or three meters to where it feels comfortable.

That way you are easy with the little run up to start and can extend it after.

Hope it helps... may be, depending where you are from, Ant and I have the same coach and I know he could help. He coaches in Enfield. Just an idea.

[JB]

I personally feel that people put too much emphasis on the run up. in my opinion your run up should only be as fast and as long as your technique can handle. i find that my arm strike and body position are best of about 7 slowish strides and that when i try and run faster the distances go down. my pb was of 5 strides anything quicker and my body collapses left and i dont throw through the point. dont forget elite throwers can throw 80m+ from standing, the run up adds the final few meters and is hence vital to them... but its not the same with every level. If i was you i would concentrate on getting your technique nailed and increase your run up slowly and over time as your action develops

[tomd]

JB - I doubt any elite thrower can standing throw 80m+

As for the run up - you should aim to accelerate into the final stride from a positive left leg stride with the arm remaining loose and relaxed behind. Any length of run up will do as long as the momentum is at its peak in the final crossover

[JB]

mmm bit of mistake there sorry about that i meant of few strides rather than a full run up