{"id":219,"date":"2021-11-10T11:19:33","date_gmt":"2021-11-10T11:19:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madaboutrun.com\/?p=219"},"modified":"2021-11-11T15:38:34","modified_gmt":"2021-11-11T15:38:34","slug":"what-is-cadence-in-running","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madaboutrun.com\/what-is-cadence-in-running\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Cadence in Running?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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You’ve probably come across the word “cadence” in a musical context before. Most people use it to refer to the ending of a phrase, which doesn’t really translate all that smoothly into a running context, so what exactly does cadence mean to a runner? Let’s find out!<\/p>
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What a lot of people don’t realize is that cadence also has another meaning in musical theory, and that’s rhythmic articulation. When we think of cadence as pertaining to rhythm rather than a piece of music as a whole, it becomes a lot easier to glean its meaning from a runner’s perspective.<\/p>
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Simply put, your cadence is the number of times your feet hit the floor per minute when you’re running. Sometimes, people may also use the term cadence to refer to the number of times just one of your feet hits the ground per minute of running. This figure can simply be doubled to find your full cadence.<\/p>
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There is no scientifically proven cadence that works better than any other. It all comes down to personal physiology and what feels right. So, even though, alongside stride length, cadence defines a runner’s speed, you shouldn’t necessarily be aiming for a specific number, as it probably won’t help you run any faster.<\/p>
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Now, I know what you’re thinking…if keeping tabs on my cadence won’t help me run any faster, why should I bother myself with it at all? Well, first off, increasing your cadence can indeed help you go faster, which is why advanced runners tend to have much higher cadences than novices.<\/p>
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However, the increase in cadence should be a natural development as you grow stronger and refine your running technique. Your cadence rate grows as a result of you getting better at running. You don’t get better at running by consciously altering your cadence.<\/p>
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That said, there are a number of major benefits to analyzing your cadence. You’ll learn how to run more economically, it can reduce muscle strain during training sessions, injuries are less common, and it can even help during the recovery process if you do<\/em> pick up an injury — pretty neat, huh?<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The cadence of professional runners is largely determined by their event of choice. For instance, talented marathon runners score around 180 steps per minute (with beginners hitting somewhere around 140), whereas world-class sprinters like Usain Bolt exceed the 250 mark.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Cadence isn’t something that can be completely manufactured, as it’s largely determined by your body type. For example, taller runners have a much longer stride, which means their cadence can be quite a bit lower than a shorter runner, yet they may have the exact same records over the same distance.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> A lower cadence or shorter stride doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re not running efficiently. As you work on your coordination, technique, strength, speed, and endurance, you might find one measure gets lower while the other gets a little higher.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Your optimal cadence will allow you to run as fast as you ever have before while burning as little energy as possible, and the more you practice running in this way, the longer you can travel at your maximum pace.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>What Is Considered a Professional Cadence?<\/strong><\/h2>
What Determines a Runner’s Cadence?<\/strong><\/h2>
How Do Runners Measure Their Cadence?<\/strong><\/h2>