How Does Calf Size Relate To Running Speed?
Introduction
Runners looking to improve their distance and speed analyze everything from dietary habits and supplements, to height, weight and body structure. Dropping a few pounds and adding a little muscle in the right areas can help to improve a runner's speed. The size and development of a runner's calves, however, seems to have little to do with his speed. The calf muscle development is more a result of the type of running done.
Calf Size and Distance Running
Distance runners, by anatomy, tend to be long and lean. Running for long distances serve to burn extra fat and muscle, depending on the runner's fat reserve. The heel to toe motion of a distance runner engages the calf muscle in an elongating fashion. In other words, when the runner places the weight on his heel, he is stretching the calf muscle. Further along in the stride, he rolls to the ball of his foot, only to repeat this motion.
The repetitive motion of elongating the calf muscle tones and strengthens the muscle, but it does not cause the muscle to bulk up. It does the exact opposite. Elongated calf muscles appear thinner and less bulky than muscles that are not constantly stretched and toned. Marathon runners, for example, have elongated, non-bulky calf muscles.
Sprinting and Calf Development
The running stride of a sprinter is much different that that of a marathon runner. Sprinters tend to spend most of their running time on the balls of their feet. When a runner places his foot down and he lands on the ball of the foot, the calf muscle does not get a chance to fully stretch. It is exercised in the contracted position, thus increasing its appearance and size. The type of repetitive running motion of a sprinter is similar to the exercise bodybuilders use to increase calf size.
Does Calf Size Affect Running Speed?
This is a chicken and egg question. Sprinters have large calves because the repetitive motion of running on the balls of the feet increases the size of the calf. Marathoners elongate the calf muscle and therefore have a smaller calf size in comparison to their sprinting counterpart.
The size of a runner's calves is more an indicator of what type of runner he is rather than a cause of a runner's relative speed.
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