# Physics of Running?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physics-of-running/103115>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 11, 2002, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physics-of-running/103115 "2002-04-11T21:54:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![requestion4321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e95f7d/32.png) [@requestion4321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/requestion4321)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physics-of-running/103115/1 "2002-04-11T21:54:15Z")

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What is the Physics behind Running?  
The actual physics.

Does it has to do something with your legs being pendulums moving back and forth. Or the simple machines that make the leg up and Newtons action and reaction 3rd law along with gravity.

But I cannot find many links on the internet about this subject. Some help is appreciated.

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**Author:** ![The\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physics-of-running/103115/2 "2002-04-11T22:02:38Z")

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Has to do with the way your muscles contract, springing you forwards. Common sense really.

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**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physics-of-running/103115/3 "2002-04-11T22:18:40Z")

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Here are a couple sites with some biomechanical analyses of running:

[http://www.texastrack.com/coaching\_article\_5.htm](http://www.texastrack.com/coaching_article_5.htm)

[http://www.education.ed.ac.uk/soccer/papers/pl-6.html](http://www.education.ed.ac.uk/soccer/papers/pl-6.html)

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**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physics-of-running/103115/4 "2002-04-12T00:12:56Z")

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It’s a pendulum action, but [don’t forget the arms](http://dragon.acadiau.ca/~pbaudin/meganppr.html)