Have you ever noticed how a lot of athletes are pigeon-toed? No seriously, if you really pay attention to them as they run, for many their feet don’t hit the ground straight. And yet they are faster. It makes you wonder if being pigeon-toed is an actual advantage for you, rather than just an amusing sight for everyone else.
I was so curious I actually looked it up. I mean it would be a great way for the pigeon-toed of the world to get out there and run in public more often, without feeling ridiculed for the way their feet move. Yes, admittedly there are people with this affliction that would rather play on FoxyBingo, or the latest iPhone game than go for a run along the beach, but some might be inspired to run somewhere that isn’t the gym.
It turns out that there isn’t any scientific proof that pigeon-toes make you a good athlete. Although many coaches in sports like basketball and football actually seek out pigeon-toed players. So what is going on with our feet when we run?
The average runner will land on the outside of their foot and roll towards the inside as they go. People who are pigeon-toed have less of a roll towards the inside. Due to this, their foot and ankle joint is often stiffer as it contacts the ground. It is this stiffness that gives them an advantage over other athletes, because the stiffer your foot is when in comes into contact with the ground, the less energy is absorbed by the impact.
This means that a pigeon-toed person’s foot is a bit like a bouncy ball. They bounce back off the ground without losing much energy, quickening their pace. By comparison, people who are not pigeon-toed are more like a deflated ball, with less of a spring to work from.
So tell me, are you pigeon-toed … or did you used to be? If so, what did you do to change your running style?
Posted: March 29th, 2012
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I completed my first ever ocean swim this year: the Cole Classic 2km. I joined a record number of other keen swimmers – 0ver 4100! – to brave the Shelley Beach to Manly adventure as part of Australia’s largest ocean swim.
I didn’t train as much as I should have so was a bit anxious about jumping into the 2km without a 1km (or less!) under my belt. I looked to Scot Ennis, a regular Cole Classic competitor, who told me I just wouldn’t have the sense of satisfaction if I only completed the 1km and with that, I signed myself up for the 2km!
Scot was right. The 2km was achievable, if long! And the sense of satisfaction was pretty good, even though I didn’t get an amazing time (44mins).
I certainly don’t consider myself an expert ocean swimmer but here’s a couple of quick tips for those thinking about venturing into the ocean for their first competitive swim:
- Train: It sounds really obvious but it’s something I think most of us (me in particular!) are a bit slack with. Get out there and practice swimming. Not just in the pool either, train in the ocean so you get a feel for the waves and currents. 2km feels a lot longer in the ocean than in the pool!
- Mark the course with major landmarks on the horizon: arrive early on race day so you can spot all the buoys that mark the route. Then look for landmarks (big buildings, obvious trees or boats – just be careful they don’t move during your race!) that correspond to the line of sight you’ll be following to reach the buoys. The hardest part about an ocean swim is not knowing where you’re going and all the associated metres swum in the wrong direction and the energy wasted as you keep checking if you’re heading in the right direction. Picking out the landmarks should make it much easier for you to know which direction to swim in. If you know someone who has swum the course before, they might be able to give you insider’s tips on which landmarks to look out for.
- Swim wide: ocean swims can be chaotic, especially at the start, so avoid all the flying legs and arms by swimming wide of the pack. It’s worth swimming a few extra metres during the course to keep your body in-tact!
What is holding you back from doing an ocean swim?
Or if you have already done an ocean swim? What are your hot-tips?
Posted: April 8th, 2011
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manly,
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Watch out for the puddle! Courtesy of Broken Hearted Runner
Went for a run in the rain last night. Ok, it wasn’t just raining it was pissing down.
My flatmate told me to take my floaties. I didn’t but I probably should have: I was drenched before I made it to the end of the street. For some illogical reason, the rain actually made me run faster. I think my subconscious was tricked into thinking it might get me out of the rain faster.
I also discovered that jumping in puddles is still as fun as it was when I was five years old! 
Posted: July 22nd, 2010
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The other week the Switched on Media team made the 1.5 hours trek out to Eastern Creek Go Karting track to get our adrenalin pumping. I’m not going to lie, I was freaking out on the bus and felt like fainting when I watched the so-called safety video that just showed all the terrible things that could happen, like rolling your go kart ten times and having a massive crash. Awesome, great video guys.
We got suited up and allocated go-karts. A special ‘extension’ was screwed onto my accelerator because I’m a little vertically challenged but I was too busy thinking about what all the different coloured flags meant. Is black slow down and red pull over?! Aah, I’d forgotten before we had even begun.
What I noticed before we all left was everyone was mentally preparing themselves in different ways:
- All the boys were talking themselves up. A lot.
- Some even looked up the track route beforehand, printed it off and studied it on the bus trip
- The girls were comparing notes on why we would be the aboslutely worst driver. Ever.
- I emailed a friend who was a go-karter for some ‘hot tips’ – they mostly consisted of when to turn in a corner and how my ’secret weapon’ is the fact that I’m light.
Mental preparation seems to be essential for all ‘athletes’ – elite or beginners. How do you mentally prepare before a competition or sporting event? Do you wear ‘lucky’ undies, have a cheeky spew before the big game or enlist the help of a sports psychologist? Go on, spill your secrets.
