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I was wondering if getting a longer run would help get higher heights...Currently I use a 5 step run and have gotten 10' in a meet. I have one week until state and was trying to figure out things that would help get a better height. I do not lose speed and I have a fast speed.

What should I do?

mhsvaulter wrote:I was wondering if getting a longer run would help get higher heights...Currently I use a 5 step run and have gotten 10' in a meet. I have one week until state and was trying to figure out things that would help get a better height. I do not lose speed and I have a fast speed.

What should I do?

Well, in my experience, a longer run doesn't always mean higher! It really depends on how good and consistent your run is. If you have a very consistent run and you're almost always on when you take off, moving back a left would let you go up on your pole or go to bigger poles.

Be careful though of changing too much. If you only have a week, you might do more damage than good by moving back. It might be a better idea to keep your five step and focus on technique. In the end, it's up to you and your coach.

Good luck!

Solid advice!

If you're going to mess around with your run, do it over the summer/off-season.

State was this past weekend and i didn't mess around with my run and I got 10'9" and placed 8th. (I hold about a foot from the top of a 12'6" pole)

Yesterday was the first day we have had a session vaulting this summer and I was getting over a 13' bungee with a 5 left run(touching it of course) and it seems like these last three weeks I have improved dramatically. Earlier in the season I could barely touch it with my feet.

So I was wondering should I get a longer run now that the season is over and I have all summer to work?

If you've talked about it with your coach and you think it's the right decision, sure...

Now get a feel (practice relentlessly for weeks) your new run on the track... as in, NOT on the runway.

Once you've got the feel for it (takes more than a few sessions), then head over to the pit and test things out.

The only reason to lengthen your run is to vault higher. It's not going to improve your technique. In fact, it won't be quite as good.

If you don't compete again til next year, you have plenty of time to lengthen your run.

I'd focus more on your plant/takeoff/swing technique from 5 lefts. You'll learn these vault parts much faster with a shorter run ... even if only because you'll have more energy and can do more reps per practice.

But there's other reasons too ... mainly that everything is a bit slower in a shorter run. If you increase your run length, you speed up your plant/takeoff timing, which is more difficult to learn ... because everything's happening too fast.

So yes ... talk to your coach ... but have your goals clear for the summer before you go off trying to just improve your PR without any consideration for improving your technique.

My guess is that if you improve your TECHNIQUE this summer, then next Spring ... when you lengthen your run ... it will be so much easier to set a PR because your TECHNIQUE will be BETTER!

BTW, there's nothing stopping you from improving your PR this summer ... from 5 lefts!

Kirk