The running-backwards Olympics











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In a future world that is obsessed by not repeating the so-called errors of their fathers, there is a backwards Olympics, or Scipmylo.



All the usual disciplines are featured in reverse where it is possible to do so.



Examples



Catching the discus.



Dodging the javelin.



Low jump.



The easiest to measure and judge are the running sports. Contestants simply run backwards.



Question



Anatomically speaking, how well will the running-backwards-records rival our current forward running ones? Is there a fundamental reason why, with enough practise they shouldn't be just as fast?






science-based biology humans anatomy sports







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  • 1




    So the martial arts like taekwondo and judo are about who cuddles the other the most?
    – Renan
    2 hours ago






  • 3




    Judo is more about the most impressive way of helping each other up off the floor.
    – chasly from UK
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    @chaslyfromUK I think I've just wet myself. Thank you.
    – Smeato
    1 hour ago















up vote
1
down vote

favorite












In a future world that is obsessed by not repeating the so-called errors of their fathers, there is a backwards Olympics, or Scipmylo.



All the usual disciplines are featured in reverse where it is possible to do so.



Examples



Catching the discus.



Dodging the javelin.



Low jump.



The easiest to measure and judge are the running sports. Contestants simply run backwards.



Question



Anatomically speaking, how well will the running-backwards-records rival our current forward running ones? Is there a fundamental reason why, with enough practise they shouldn't be just as fast?






science-based biology humans anatomy sports







share|improve this question




















  • 1




    So the martial arts like taekwondo and judo are about who cuddles the other the most?
    – Renan
    2 hours ago






  • 3




    Judo is more about the most impressive way of helping each other up off the floor.
    – chasly from UK
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    @chaslyfromUK I think I've just wet myself. Thank you.
    – Smeato
    1 hour ago













up vote
1
down vote

favorite









up vote
1
down vote

favorite











In a future world that is obsessed by not repeating the so-called errors of their fathers, there is a backwards Olympics, or Scipmylo.



All the usual disciplines are featured in reverse where it is possible to do so.



Examples



Catching the discus.



Dodging the javelin.



Low jump.



The easiest to measure and judge are the running sports. Contestants simply run backwards.



Question



Anatomically speaking, how well will the running-backwards-records rival our current forward running ones? Is there a fundamental reason why, with enough practise they shouldn't be just as fast?






science-based biology humans anatomy sports







share|improve this question















In a future world that is obsessed by not repeating the so-called errors of their fathers, there is a backwards Olympics, or Scipmylo.



All the usual disciplines are featured in reverse where it is possible to do so.



Examples



Catching the discus.



Dodging the javelin.



Low jump.



The easiest to measure and judge are the running sports. Contestants simply run backwards.



Question



Anatomically speaking, how well will the running-backwards-records rival our current forward running ones? Is there a fundamental reason why, with enough practise they shouldn't be just as fast?






science-based biology humans anatomy sports




science-based biology humans anatomy sports






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 1 hour ago









HDE 226868♦

63.1k12216412




63.1k12216412










asked 2 hours ago









chasly from UK

11.2k349103




11.2k349103








  • 1




    So the martial arts like taekwondo and judo are about who cuddles the other the most?
    – Renan
    2 hours ago






  • 3




    Judo is more about the most impressive way of helping each other up off the floor.
    – chasly from UK
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    @chaslyfromUK I think I've just wet myself. Thank you.
    – Smeato
    1 hour ago














  • 1




    So the martial arts like taekwondo and judo are about who cuddles the other the most?
    – Renan
    2 hours ago






  • 3




    Judo is more about the most impressive way of helping each other up off the floor.
    – chasly from UK
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    @chaslyfromUK I think I've just wet myself. Thank you.
    – Smeato
    1 hour ago








1




1




So the martial arts like taekwondo and judo are about who cuddles the other the most?
– Renan
2 hours ago




So the martial arts like taekwondo and judo are about who cuddles the other the most?
– Renan
2 hours ago




3




3




Judo is more about the most impressive way of helping each other up off the floor.
– chasly from UK
2 hours ago




Judo is more about the most impressive way of helping each other up off the floor.
– chasly from UK
2 hours ago




1




1




@chaslyfromUK I think I've just wet myself. Thank you.
– Smeato
1 hour ago




@chaslyfromUK I think I've just wet myself. Thank you.
– Smeato
1 hour ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
3
down vote













Backwards running will almost certainly never be as fast or efficient as regular running. A study back in 2011 showed that it should takes about 30% more energy to run backwards at a given speed. Why? It depends on how foot muscles respond during both types of strides. In normal running, landing on the balls of your feet and pushing off on the toes allows muscles to coil up and then release elastic energy, propelling you forward. When running in reverse, the muscles are unable to stretch and release in the same way.



Current world records in the backwards 5k and marathon are substantially slower than the corresponding forwards records: 19:31 and 3:38:27 compared to 12:37 and 2:01:39, respectively. I assume that if the strongest distance runners trained for backwards running, they could improve on those backwards times, but they'd still be at a disadvantage, from an energy perspective.






share|improve this answer





















  • That's an interesting 2011 article. One might wonder, if the athletes trained from an early age, would they perhaps develop a more suitable posture and musculature for backwards running? Maybe they could even develop the hard landing and soft takeoff required. I can imagine that double-jointed people would be at an advantage with this. 44wj5q2j6wo23s4mp6owjohh-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/…
    – chasly from UK
    2 hours ago












  • @chaslyfromUK It's an interesting thought. Yeah, I do wonder how early childhood training could affect things.
    – HDE 226868♦
    1 hour ago


















up vote
1
down vote













One problem for your sportsmen and women is that human vision is forward facing.



This means that it would be very difficult for them to make sure that they are running in the correct lane going backwards, for longer races judge the curve if the track etc.



Although with training it might be possible to mitigate against this to some extent, I doubt they could ever be as fast as somone running in the same direction they can see.






share|improve this answer





















  • Good point. Actually I wonder if lack of vision caused some of the slowness shown up in the study cited by HDE 226868. I suppose runners could have the option of wearing backwards facing mirrors although that might cause a bit of wind-resistance.
    – chasly from UK
    43 mins ago












  • @chaslyfromUK No wind resistance if wearing "sessalg elgoog" with a mini-camera on the opposing arms, it would become a "krap eht ni goj"
    – KJO
    20 mins ago










  • @OJK ---- !LFOR
    – chasly from UK
    2 mins ago











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2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes








2 Answers
2






active

oldest

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active

oldest

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active

oldest

votes








up vote
3
down vote













Backwards running will almost certainly never be as fast or efficient as regular running. A study back in 2011 showed that it should takes about 30% more energy to run backwards at a given speed. Why? It depends on how foot muscles respond during both types of strides. In normal running, landing on the balls of your feet and pushing off on the toes allows muscles to coil up and then release elastic energy, propelling you forward. When running in reverse, the muscles are unable to stretch and release in the same way.



Current world records in the backwards 5k and marathon are substantially slower than the corresponding forwards records: 19:31 and 3:38:27 compared to 12:37 and 2:01:39, respectively. I assume that if the strongest distance runners trained for backwards running, they could improve on those backwards times, but they'd still be at a disadvantage, from an energy perspective.






share|improve this answer





















  • That's an interesting 2011 article. One might wonder, if the athletes trained from an early age, would they perhaps develop a more suitable posture and musculature for backwards running? Maybe they could even develop the hard landing and soft takeoff required. I can imagine that double-jointed people would be at an advantage with this. 44wj5q2j6wo23s4mp6owjohh-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/…
    – chasly from UK
    2 hours ago












  • @chaslyfromUK It's an interesting thought. Yeah, I do wonder how early childhood training could affect things.
    – HDE 226868♦
    1 hour ago















up vote
3
down vote













Backwards running will almost certainly never be as fast or efficient as regular running. A study back in 2011 showed that it should takes about 30% more energy to run backwards at a given speed. Why? It depends on how foot muscles respond during both types of strides. In normal running, landing on the balls of your feet and pushing off on the toes allows muscles to coil up and then release elastic energy, propelling you forward. When running in reverse, the muscles are unable to stretch and release in the same way.



Current world records in the backwards 5k and marathon are substantially slower than the corresponding forwards records: 19:31 and 3:38:27 compared to 12:37 and 2:01:39, respectively. I assume that if the strongest distance runners trained for backwards running, they could improve on those backwards times, but they'd still be at a disadvantage, from an energy perspective.






share|improve this answer





















  • That's an interesting 2011 article. One might wonder, if the athletes trained from an early age, would they perhaps develop a more suitable posture and musculature for backwards running? Maybe they could even develop the hard landing and soft takeoff required. I can imagine that double-jointed people would be at an advantage with this. 44wj5q2j6wo23s4mp6owjohh-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/…
    – chasly from UK
    2 hours ago












  • @chaslyfromUK It's an interesting thought. Yeah, I do wonder how early childhood training could affect things.
    – HDE 226868♦
    1 hour ago













up vote
3
down vote










up vote
3
down vote









Backwards running will almost certainly never be as fast or efficient as regular running. A study back in 2011 showed that it should takes about 30% more energy to run backwards at a given speed. Why? It depends on how foot muscles respond during both types of strides. In normal running, landing on the balls of your feet and pushing off on the toes allows muscles to coil up and then release elastic energy, propelling you forward. When running in reverse, the muscles are unable to stretch and release in the same way.



Current world records in the backwards 5k and marathon are substantially slower than the corresponding forwards records: 19:31 and 3:38:27 compared to 12:37 and 2:01:39, respectively. I assume that if the strongest distance runners trained for backwards running, they could improve on those backwards times, but they'd still be at a disadvantage, from an energy perspective.






share|improve this answer












Backwards running will almost certainly never be as fast or efficient as regular running. A study back in 2011 showed that it should takes about 30% more energy to run backwards at a given speed. Why? It depends on how foot muscles respond during both types of strides. In normal running, landing on the balls of your feet and pushing off on the toes allows muscles to coil up and then release elastic energy, propelling you forward. When running in reverse, the muscles are unable to stretch and release in the same way.



Current world records in the backwards 5k and marathon are substantially slower than the corresponding forwards records: 19:31 and 3:38:27 compared to 12:37 and 2:01:39, respectively. I assume that if the strongest distance runners trained for backwards running, they could improve on those backwards times, but they'd still be at a disadvantage, from an energy perspective.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 2 hours ago









HDE 226868♦

63.1k12216412




63.1k12216412












  • That's an interesting 2011 article. One might wonder, if the athletes trained from an early age, would they perhaps develop a more suitable posture and musculature for backwards running? Maybe they could even develop the hard landing and soft takeoff required. I can imagine that double-jointed people would be at an advantage with this. 44wj5q2j6wo23s4mp6owjohh-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/…
    – chasly from UK
    2 hours ago












  • @chaslyfromUK It's an interesting thought. Yeah, I do wonder how early childhood training could affect things.
    – HDE 226868♦
    1 hour ago


















  • That's an interesting 2011 article. One might wonder, if the athletes trained from an early age, would they perhaps develop a more suitable posture and musculature for backwards running? Maybe they could even develop the hard landing and soft takeoff required. I can imagine that double-jointed people would be at an advantage with this. 44wj5q2j6wo23s4mp6owjohh-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/…
    – chasly from UK
    2 hours ago












  • @chaslyfromUK It's an interesting thought. Yeah, I do wonder how early childhood training could affect things.
    – HDE 226868♦
    1 hour ago
















That's an interesting 2011 article. One might wonder, if the athletes trained from an early age, would they perhaps develop a more suitable posture and musculature for backwards running? Maybe they could even develop the hard landing and soft takeoff required. I can imagine that double-jointed people would be at an advantage with this. 44wj5q2j6wo23s4mp6owjohh-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/…
– chasly from UK
2 hours ago






That's an interesting 2011 article. One might wonder, if the athletes trained from an early age, would they perhaps develop a more suitable posture and musculature for backwards running? Maybe they could even develop the hard landing and soft takeoff required. I can imagine that double-jointed people would be at an advantage with this. 44wj5q2j6wo23s4mp6owjohh-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/…
– chasly from UK
2 hours ago














@chaslyfromUK It's an interesting thought. Yeah, I do wonder how early childhood training could affect things.
– HDE 226868♦
1 hour ago




@chaslyfromUK It's an interesting thought. Yeah, I do wonder how early childhood training could affect things.
– HDE 226868♦
1 hour ago










up vote
1
down vote













One problem for your sportsmen and women is that human vision is forward facing.



This means that it would be very difficult for them to make sure that they are running in the correct lane going backwards, for longer races judge the curve if the track etc.



Although with training it might be possible to mitigate against this to some extent, I doubt they could ever be as fast as somone running in the same direction they can see.






share|improve this answer





















  • Good point. Actually I wonder if lack of vision caused some of the slowness shown up in the study cited by HDE 226868. I suppose runners could have the option of wearing backwards facing mirrors although that might cause a bit of wind-resistance.
    – chasly from UK
    43 mins ago












  • @chaslyfromUK No wind resistance if wearing "sessalg elgoog" with a mini-camera on the opposing arms, it would become a "krap eht ni goj"
    – KJO
    20 mins ago










  • @OJK ---- !LFOR
    – chasly from UK
    2 mins ago















up vote
1
down vote













One problem for your sportsmen and women is that human vision is forward facing.



This means that it would be very difficult for them to make sure that they are running in the correct lane going backwards, for longer races judge the curve if the track etc.



Although with training it might be possible to mitigate against this to some extent, I doubt they could ever be as fast as somone running in the same direction they can see.






share|improve this answer





















  • Good point. Actually I wonder if lack of vision caused some of the slowness shown up in the study cited by HDE 226868. I suppose runners could have the option of wearing backwards facing mirrors although that might cause a bit of wind-resistance.
    – chasly from UK
    43 mins ago












  • @chaslyfromUK No wind resistance if wearing "sessalg elgoog" with a mini-camera on the opposing arms, it would become a "krap eht ni goj"
    – KJO
    20 mins ago










  • @OJK ---- !LFOR
    – chasly from UK
    2 mins ago













up vote
1
down vote










up vote
1
down vote









One problem for your sportsmen and women is that human vision is forward facing.



This means that it would be very difficult for them to make sure that they are running in the correct lane going backwards, for longer races judge the curve if the track etc.



Although with training it might be possible to mitigate against this to some extent, I doubt they could ever be as fast as somone running in the same direction they can see.






share|improve this answer












One problem for your sportsmen and women is that human vision is forward facing.



This means that it would be very difficult for them to make sure that they are running in the correct lane going backwards, for longer races judge the curve if the track etc.



Although with training it might be possible to mitigate against this to some extent, I doubt they could ever be as fast as somone running in the same direction they can see.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 1 hour ago









Sarriesfan

1,9621513




1,9621513












  • Good point. Actually I wonder if lack of vision caused some of the slowness shown up in the study cited by HDE 226868. I suppose runners could have the option of wearing backwards facing mirrors although that might cause a bit of wind-resistance.
    – chasly from UK
    43 mins ago












  • @chaslyfromUK No wind resistance if wearing "sessalg elgoog" with a mini-camera on the opposing arms, it would become a "krap eht ni goj"
    – KJO
    20 mins ago










  • @OJK ---- !LFOR
    – chasly from UK
    2 mins ago


















  • Good point. Actually I wonder if lack of vision caused some of the slowness shown up in the study cited by HDE 226868. I suppose runners could have the option of wearing backwards facing mirrors although that might cause a bit of wind-resistance.
    – chasly from UK
    43 mins ago












  • @chaslyfromUK No wind resistance if wearing "sessalg elgoog" with a mini-camera on the opposing arms, it would become a "krap eht ni goj"
    – KJO
    20 mins ago










  • @OJK ---- !LFOR
    – chasly from UK
    2 mins ago
















Good point. Actually I wonder if lack of vision caused some of the slowness shown up in the study cited by HDE 226868. I suppose runners could have the option of wearing backwards facing mirrors although that might cause a bit of wind-resistance.
– chasly from UK
43 mins ago






Good point. Actually I wonder if lack of vision caused some of the slowness shown up in the study cited by HDE 226868. I suppose runners could have the option of wearing backwards facing mirrors although that might cause a bit of wind-resistance.
– chasly from UK
43 mins ago














@chaslyfromUK No wind resistance if wearing "sessalg elgoog" with a mini-camera on the opposing arms, it would become a "krap eht ni goj"
– KJO
20 mins ago




@chaslyfromUK No wind resistance if wearing "sessalg elgoog" with a mini-camera on the opposing arms, it would become a "krap eht ni goj"
– KJO
20 mins ago












@OJK ---- !LFOR
– chasly from UK
2 mins ago




@OJK ---- !LFOR
– chasly from UK
2 mins ago


















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