Is there some sort of new physiological reason why all the hept hurdlers are slapping their faces, thighs, etc?
Is there some sort of new physiological reason why all the hept hurdlers are slapping their faces, thighs, etc?
Yes. Old European tactic to stimulate the CNS prior to doing something explosive. Watch almost any of the European field eventers, hurdlers, sprinters, etc.
Thanks for the response ... appreciate it. Any studies if it's better than the plyometric response of in-place leaping before the start?
"Any studies if it's better than the plyometric response of in-place leaping before the start?"
Since there are no studies supporting your leap-frog plyos theory, it is doubtful. Well-coached sprinters don't do this. Google an Olympic 100m final for evidence.
It's an autogenic technique to concentrate. Lukas Verzbicas does it. Some pull their ring fingers, slap thighs, stub right foot in the ground and so forth.
...go ahead,.. pull my finger
... no realy, pull my finger....
scientific enough for you?
try sitting still some time before a race. It'll drive ya nuts!
My high school coach, during the 4x4, used to slap the faces of the the runners waiting for the baton, esp if they had been doubling or tripling. It gets a big surge of adrenaline going, esp when somebody else is doing it to you.
male coach and female runners?
He hit me and it felt like a kiss.
Did it also have the side effect of causing opposing runners to slow down or drop the baton due to laughter?
School record 3:17 and 47.x, and one OG 4x4 gold (also indoor AR holder), so I guess he must have been doing something right.
If you can get someone to slap you without you expecting it before your race, you can run the 800 on pure hate.