Thread by @Gareth_Sandford

(1/thread) A 2nd (Free) contribution #iaafdoha19 available:
frontiersin.org/articles/10.33…

Tactics that Differentiates Medalists in Elite Men’s #1500m #Championship #Racing

It all started following #rio2016 final chats with @nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ

youtube.com/watch?v=Grf_62…

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience (2)I shared a race velocity profile to which Nick shared tactics was the key in the end result. He was absolutely right, a velocity profile (which predominates the majority of this work in the area of tactics/pacing) – gives only a very surface characterization of what’s going on

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience (3) I felt pretty useless in being able to provide useful insights to support what tactically was going on. We had to evolve our approach… First is what we found...(followed by practical apps, then future researcher discussions).

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience (4) On average more surges occur before the race kick in slow races, compared to fast and medium races – as happened in that #rio2016 final

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience (5) The final surge before the race kick occurs substantially earlier in fast vs. medium and slow races – we saw this with Cheruiyot #Doha2019 letsrun.com/news/2019/10/t… , & Manangoi and Cheruiyot in #London2017 youtube.com/watch?v=_pyyRW…

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience (6)To win the gold 🏅in fast races (sub 3:34 finishing time), athletes at the race kick on average were shown to be in the top 2 positions

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience (7) In contrast positioning in the top 4 was needed for gold 🏅 in medium (3:34.01-3:41.00) and slow races (>3:42)

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience (8) Importantly in slow pace races, there was no substantial difference in tactical position at the race kick of ALL eventual medalists

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience (9) Practical applications:

Within professional track racing, it can be a challenge for 1500m athletes to find quality races that are not setup with a pace maker (e.g. Diamond league, European & North American racing circuits) in order to prepare for major championship racing.

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience (10) This raises the question of how the tactical component in races with lots of surges and in-racing decision
making i.e., slow or medium pace races can be rehearsed ahead of championships. Particularly when these heavily feature in rounds (e.g below)

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience (11) Future researcher discsusions @AndyRenfree @ArturoCasadoAld @FJHettinga

Current literature (until now) on “the kick” in the 1500m is typically assessed from a one off championship

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience @AndyRenfree @ArturoCasadoAld @FJHettinga (12) or in cases assessing multiple championships, an assumption is made that finals of varying finish time, whether that be fast, medium, or slow, result in the similar tactical execution. We have to really question this assumption.

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience @AndyRenfree @ArturoCasadoAld @FJHettinga (13) We defined the “race kick” which globally characterizes the kick event within the race, herein as, “a one-time landmark moment in the race where the first athlete makes the races’ first decisive and final break from the pace as a sustained pursuit for the finish line.”

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience @AndyRenfree @ArturoCasadoAld @FJHettinga (14) Surges were defined as: as any point in the 1,500m after the first 300m where an athlete repositions by 3 places; or noticeably dictates a raise in the pace from the front. Further explanation found in methods.

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience @AndyRenfree @ArturoCasadoAld @FJHettinga (15) We for the first time introduce (slow, medium, fast) category analysis. This is a step forward, and open to being questioned in future... as it we suggest here: frontiersin.org/articles/10.33…

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience @AndyRenfree @ArturoCasadoAld @FJHettinga (16) Fast pace as <3:34.00. In the last 5 years <20 athletes per year have run faster than 3:34.00 from any nation. With a field allocation of 12 athletes in an IAAF World Championships/Olympic final, 3:34 was chosen as a pace that would be deemed fast by all eventual finalists.

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience @AndyRenfree @ArturoCasadoAld @FJHettinga (17) Medium pace (3:34.01–3:41.99) was selected as 3:41.99 is the United States of America Track and Field Trial “B” standard to compete at their National Championships and “Slow pace” were times >3:42.00.

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience @AndyRenfree @ArturoCasadoAld @FJHettinga (18) Stepping into new areas/approaches starts with drawing a line in the sand. We do not believe 3:35 vs 3:41 races are the same stress physiologically, but tactically the positioning, & behavior within this ‘moderate category’ may be similar and warrants further investigation.

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience @AndyRenfree @ArturoCasadoAld @FJHettinga (19) On approach for these investigations – big numbers, lots of races – generalizes outcome – which IMO misses the nuance of what’s happening, I'd encourage further ‘depth’ based approaches

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience @AndyRenfree @ArturoCasadoAld @FJHettinga (20) The nuance matters in a huge way and by generalizing our categories we overlook the nuance that really matters at the top of the pyramid – i.e to medallists or people striving for that

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience @AndyRenfree @ArturoCasadoAld @FJHettinga (21) My hope is that technologies of the future really help us conduct more in depth tactical analysis moving forward. I'd be pleased to hear from/about anyone doing work in this space.

@nickwillis @stevewillis_NZ @TStellingwerff @stevemagness @Scienceofsport @BiomechMax @ALTIS @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday @FrontSportsAL @sweatscience @AndyRenfree @ArturoCasadoAld @FJHettinga (22) Finally a thanks to my co-authors @simonrogersNZ @bendaytoday to close friends, who decided to help, not because it was part of their job (it totally was NOT), but who believed in the mission to help answer coaching & athlete questions. Thanks for your support of my ideas…