https://www.geoffreyburns.com/stream daily 0.75 2022-02-19 https://www.geoffreyburns.com/stream/it-pays-be-to-be-compliant-the-physics-of-indoor-track-and-optimal-surfaces monthly 0.5 2025-10-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/f3cfa683-8e92-48cf-8bbf-328d648e7d28/1.jpg stream - It pays be to be compliant: the physics of indoor track and “optimal” surfaces - Make it stand out Coghlan winning his first Wanamaker title in 1977. Photo: W. Jacobellis/New York Post via Irish Times https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/6d627a17-2538-42e8-8da2-9a7153a635e2/2.jpg stream - It pays be to be compliant: the physics of indoor track and “optimal” surfaces - Make it stand out Our bodies behaving as giant springs when we run. Image: Burns et al. (2021) with frames adapted from Muybridge (1887) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/91f9a146-6c65-4e2c-a93a-e7631dd64a9c/10.png stream - It pays be to be compliant: the physics of indoor track and “optimal” surfaces - Make it stand out Load-deformation curves from testing old (left) and new (right) portable surfaces. The red arrows indicate compression and blue arrows are decompression. The area within that loop is the energy lost, so the fatter the loop, the less efficient the spring. The slope of the line is the stiffness–how much force is required for a given displacement. The old shoes were stiff and dissipative, and the new ones are compliant and resilient. Note that the stiffnesses of the super shoes are much lower than the beneficial tracks. Shoes and ground comparisons aren’t apples to apples, but it might suggest that a more compliant, resilient ground might also be able to further advance the benefit. Figures: G. Burns https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/cedf08a0-9dde-4ab0-854f-acb268169b75/4.jpg stream - It pays be to be compliant: the physics of indoor track and “optimal” surfaces - Make it stand out Floyd Highfill with a characteristic well-banked plywood track photo: Sports Illustrated https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/7cafafc8-68f8-466c-a18a-d9d8d65d8f7f/7.jpg stream - It pays be to be compliant: the physics of indoor track and “optimal” surfaces - Make it stand out Left: The 1977 runway set-up where they could measure and swap surfaces. Right: the six surfaces tested and their respective stiffnesses. Figure and Table: McMahon and Greene (1979) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/4c6c934d-22c8-45b5-9ef4-8a6e48dd7c1c/12.jpg stream - It pays be to be compliant: the physics of indoor track and “optimal” surfaces - Make it stand out Photo: Bob Hagedohm/Sports Illustrated https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/10c66d8d-49d4-4f24-9b4c-9fcb64dd3cb4/8.jpg stream - It pays be to be compliant: the physics of indoor track and “optimal” surfaces - Make it stand out From the Kerdok et al. bouncy treadmill study. Note the relatively consistent step parameters (left panels), the significant increase in leg stiffness of the runner to maintain the overall system stiffness (middle panels), and the drastic decrease in metabolic demand for the given speed on the softest surface (right panel). Figures: Kerdok et al. (2002) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/77d4dbc6-80c6-40c8-85c2-3419eea2a776/11.jpg stream - It pays be to be compliant: the physics of indoor track and “optimal” surfaces - Make it stand out The Highfill/Tracks West construction at Holt Arena in Pocatello, Idaho. Photo: Simplot Games https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/d798dd13-387a-46da-83d7-90b49e9127c1/5.jpg stream - It pays be to be compliant: the physics of indoor track and “optimal” surfaces - Make it stand out Top left: A Highfill/Tracks West construction at Cole Field House at the University of Maryland, site of many epic battles on boards at their annual CYO meet (e.g., top right). Bottom left: Prefontaine’s 1974 8:20 American Record in the two-mile on Highfill’s famously fast and superbly steep installation in San Diego. Bottom right: Marcus O’Sullivan ripping around the Highfill/McMahon & Greene collaboration in Madison Square Garden. Photos: UMD Archives (top left); AP (top right)); Chip Gale/T&F News (bottom left); Running Past (bottom right) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/76482abe-5ce5-488f-8e5c-45d1bfdb8ab4/6.jpg stream - It pays be to be compliant: the physics of indoor track and “optimal” surfaces - Make it stand out Left: McMahon (right) and Greene (left) conducting their experiments on the runway whose surface they adjusted. Right: A subject running over a stiff surface (top) with little deformation underfoot and the super-compliant pillow track (bottom) with substantial deformation underfoot. Photos: Scientific American https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/07e31488-72d9-4d7f-afdc-52927235217a/9.jpeg stream - It pays be to be compliant: the physics of indoor track and “optimal” surfaces - Make it stand out The Boston University indoor track at their Track and Tennis Center. Anyone who sets a record here should send a “Thank You” note to Pete Schuder. Photo: FIU https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/51dc0415-b217-4eb7-b9ab-62f4a0a9bb47/3.jpg stream - It pays be to be compliant: the physics of indoor track and “optimal” surfaces - Make it stand out Running on a compliant-yet-dampened surface is not particularly efficient. A scene from the sand study. Photo: The Company of Biologists https://www.geoffreyburns.com/stream/trading-souls-for-soles monthly 0.5 2021-10-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1570218035402-XE7R7IDDAIVC92KCCSO8/Meyer-1983-2-1000x675.jpg stream - Trading Souls for Soles Paul Cummings, Greg Meyer, and Benji Durden do battle in the 1983 Boston Marathon (photo: Jeff Johnson) https://www.geoffreyburns.com/stream/theres-money-in-the-bank-the-physics-of-indoor-track-and-optimal-speeds monthly 0.5 2021-10-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1569871933096-4IHRMML7Q16KA2HXQ15S/screen-shot-2018-03-01-at-4-04-59-pm.png stream - There’s money in the bank: the physics of indoor track and “optimal” speeds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1569872049406-IVECWA6752HN6M4X9T2Q/00000b.png stream - There’s money in the bank: the physics of indoor track and “optimal” speeds Optimal bank angle for various speeds around an indoor track with a turn radius of 17.5 meters https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1569872096603-LXFBGIXPVMSTATREOT1I/bank-2.png stream - There’s money in the bank: the physics of indoor track and “optimal” speeds Optimal bank angle for a given 200 meter split https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1569872010193-R57QO1K3WVCWLZ5T0SOO/screen-shot-2018-03-07-at-3-45-17-pm.png stream - There’s money in the bank: the physics of indoor track and “optimal” speeds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1569871977847-GPZWD3M615B0ZFDKPY1V/img_0754-2.png stream - There’s money in the bank: the physics of indoor track and “optimal” speeds https://www.geoffreyburns.com/stream/going-home-via-chicago-lakefront-50-mile-preview monthly 0.5 2021-10-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1569871657302-O95RIFXHJX31JU8JU1GN/198412-pdf_1.jpg stream - Going Home, Via Chicago: Lakefront 50-Mile Preview Fordyce on his way to a 50-mile world record along the lakefront path in Chicago https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1569871711716-APRKHW8RBEGC3QJKE9P0/img_1381-2.jpg stream - Going Home, Via Chicago: Lakefront 50-Mile Preview Zach rocking the Lakefront 50 in 2013 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1569871609361-KD7G5OQTGAT6IWNZNTTQ/chicago-city-horizon-skyline-lakefront-trail-2.jpg stream - Going Home, Via Chicago: Lakefront 50-Mile Preview Chicago Lakefront Trail https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1569871779840-73R7MYPKTK0A1I7J4NUN/14531_-2.jpg stream - Going Home, Via Chicago: Lakefront 50-Mile Preview https://www.geoffreyburns.com/stream/usatf-100k-national-championship-race-report monthly 0.5 2021-10-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1569871231232-7API2XOSARWA5ZRHJUHE/3a.png stream - USATF 100k National Championship – Race Report Joy of joys! photo: Larry Iles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1569871417214-6TK68VI4KXU3ID7FV2TL/6.png stream - USATF 100k National Championship – Race Report All still there! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1569871497761-MM4Q6AJX241GH5IHQ7QY/5.png stream - USATF 100k National Championship – Race Report https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1569871168193-4587UIU9HZ7E7RHM1H3X/2a.png stream - USATF 100k National Championship – Race Report photo: Wayne Gruhlke https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1569871318666-F2IG0I2I5FHITYYXHEN7/12.png stream - USATF 100k National Championship – Race Report Movement functionality is operating on low-power mode https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1569871453012-IOD6LXYR780XO82N811S/8.png stream - USATF 100k National Championship – Race Report Because the best trophies require white gloves to hold them https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1569871103211-31NJULFZAFXWDMEKKSV4/madcity1.png stream - USATF 100k National Championship – Race Report About a half mile into the race – right before the solo flight began. photo: Larry Iles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1569871394168-ZTJIA4IRCKOPO05EOW66/7.png stream - USATF 100k National Championship – Race Report Victory Feast, part 1 https://www.geoffreyburns.com/stream/a-silver-lining-to-the-doping-crisis monthly 0.5 2021-10-29 https://www.geoffreyburns.com/gallery-images-ethan daily 0.75 2025-06-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/591c676737c5813d19a82d41/1495130126776-GMISRG9H68UYZS5ZHN8C/Eamon-SQS_KEVIN_DK_0875.jpg Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/591c676737c5813d19a82d41/1495130126776-GMISRG9H68UYZS5ZHN8C/Eamon-SQS_KEVIN_DK_0875.jpg Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/591c676737c5813d19a82d41/1495130119647-V8E0NYNNJSZBF8QAZUP9/Eamon-SQS_KEVIN_DK_0988.jpg Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/591c676737c5813d19a82d41/1495130128254-DBABEO5V333HS13D6HB6/Eamon-SQS_KEVIN_DK_0994.jpg Images https://www.geoffreyburns.com/home daily 1.0 2022-12-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1618506711787-PENOC0L2ES04X3MZHO1Y/GB2.png home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d62f64df9fbf20001a74888/1618506851938-QXQTFH8VQ71WM3LZRITL/GB3.jpg home Photo: Bryon Powell (iRunFar) https://www.geoffreyburns.com/new-page daily 0.75 2019-10-04 https://www.geoffreyburns.com/media daily 0.75 2025-10-27 https://www.geoffreyburns.com/publications-1 daily 0.75 2024-10-30 https://www.geoffreyburns.com/info daily 0.75 2022-12-07