Here's Exactly How Your Height Impacts Your Speed - Aaptiv (2024)

While there are many ways that you can maximize your running performance, there are other factors that you can’t control, like your height.

Pacing is different for everyone and that largely may have something to do with leg length.

If your legs are shorter, you may feel like it’s harder to keep up with someone with longer limbs. But it’s possible that feeling is just in your head.

We talked toAaptiv Trainer Kelly Chase, who doesn’t let her height stop her from hitting those fast speeds, for her thoughts on how height impacts speed.

Does height affect how fast you can run?

It actually doesn’t—take it from Chase herself. “Personally, I am short in height. I’m 5’2″ and I never thought I could hit faster speeds when running, and I believe that’s quite a myth most people believe—‘I’m short, I’ll never be able to run as fast as someone who is tall.’”

In reality, it doesn’t make as big of a difference as people think. In fact, while tall people may have longer stride length, they also generally carry more weight than shorter people, which can even out the playing field (although, this, of course, varies from individual to individual).

Other things that contribute to running speed: flexibility and strength.

No matter what height you are, running to improve speed requires both of those things. Even the tallest person in the world couldn’t hit their highest pace potential if they aren’t aren’t practicing strength training or improving flexibility. Aaptiv can help with our stretching workouts!

So, don’t let height stop you from chasing after those fast times. “I thought the same way, but honestly, after continuously training using exercises that challenged my mind and body, such as hill repeats, sprint work, [and] even just pace progression intervals, my pace significantly improved,” says Chase.

Focus on consistent training full of variety to work up to your top speed.

How to Improve Your Pace

When it comes to running faster, there are many other variables that matter much more than your height. Here are some ways to improve your pace speed, without the extra inches.

Take it up a notch.

Cover different types of running workouts so that you can reap the benefits of each. Hill sprints are particularly beneficial for building speed, says Chase.

The added resistance from the incline helps to work and strengthen your stride power. As you fight your way up, your legs grow accustomed to the added resistance.

Try running on flat ground after a grueling hill. It’s much easier and you’ll move much faster.

Incorporate incline-based running workouts about twice weekly into your training routine. You can do these on a treadmill or find a hilly area outside to tackle.

Work on your stamina.

You need speed for more than just quick bursts like sprints. For distance runners, a faster pace can mean the difference between hitting a PR or missing it.

So, Chase recommends focusing on your endurance, too. “You can and will improve your stamina and stride form, which will result in improved pace,” she says.

It doesn’t matter if you’re on the taller or shorter side, if you don’t have great stamina, then you’ll burn out fast and slow down. By improving this aspect, you’ll have more energy to fuel your run and keep up your speed for longer.

Add a longer endurance run or a run with longer (2-3 minutes) steady or tempo pace intervals to build up your stamina and strength.

Focus on pace progression intervals.

Whether you’re tall or short, you can enhance your running performance—you’re not limited by your height.

And progression intervals are your best friend. To do these, Chase recommends starting off your run at a comfortable pace.

You should be able to hold a conversation and breathe comfortably at this speed. From there, gradually increase your pace by 0.2 every few minutes.

You can build up to a certain speed like your tempo pace, hold it there for two minutes, and then taper back down from there.

Remember that progression really is all about the slow build. If you push yourself too much or too fast, then you increase the risk of injury, which can put a stop to your training for a while or slow you down even more.

“Your muscles are not used to these faster speeds, [that is] until they’re conditioned well for them,” Chase says.

Chase herself has experienced the impact of challenging your muscles when they weren’t ready. “I actually experienced Achilles tendinitis due to the lack of proper warming up and stretching, but also because I challenged myself a bit too quickly instead of taking it slow and progressing to the higher speeds,” she explains.

So, take it slow and always remember to warm up and cool down! Taking the time before your run to prepare your body can ensure that you’ll have a better training session.

Aaptiv can help you run your best with our audio based fitness workouts. Sign up and save today!

Here's Exactly How Your Height Impacts Your Speed - Aaptiv (2024)

FAQs

Here's Exactly How Your Height Impacts Your Speed - Aaptiv? ›

'” In reality, it doesn't make as big of a difference as people think. In fact, while tall

tall
This is a list of the tallest people, verified by Guinness World Records or other reliable sources. According to the Guinness World Records, the tallest human in recorded history was Robert Wadlow of the United States (1918–1940), who was 272 cm (8 ft 11 in).
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › List_of_tallest_people
people may have longer stride length, they also generally carry more weight than shorter people, which can even out the playing field (although, this, of course, varies from individual to individual).

Can height affect your speed? ›

A lot of people assume that being taller makes you speedier—but that's simply not true. We chatted with Peloton Tread instructor Matty Maggiacomo about the myth that taller people run faster and how you can become both a better and faster runner no matter your height.

Are shorter or taller people faster? ›

torso length for our height), height is not a major determinant of running speed or the potential running ability of sprinters, marathon runners, or long distance runners in general.

Do tall people get promoted more? ›

Studies show height correlates with higher income: recruiters favour taller candidates and height influences promotion opportunities.

Do tall guys run faster? ›

Running is a complex movement and no one characteristic, such as being tall, can make you run fast. Footstrike impact requires strength, and stride length further depends upon flexibility in your hips, quads and hamstrings.

Do tall people live faster? ›

Contrary to popular belief, these results show that taller people do not live longer than their shorter counterparts. However, there are both the- oretical and empirical reasons for doubting that the observed relationship between stature and longevi- ty is direct and causal.

Do taller people react slower? ›

Height – taller people will have slower reactions, because of the greater distance the information has to travel from a person's brain to the active muscles. Shorter sprinters tend to win shorter races. Level of Alertness – being more alert can improve reaction time.

Do tall people walk faster? ›

Progression 2: Short, Quick Steps

Most people think taller people with longer legs can walk faster (Michele hears this all the time), which is reasonable. But the truth is, the shorter person can be faster than the taller one, and this isn't an anomaly.

Would we run faster with 4 legs? ›

The maximum running speed has little to do with the number of legs, it all depends on how fast can the available legs be moved: in laymen terms, you can't run faster than the speed at which you can push your leg back.

Are long legs still attractive? ›

The team found that regardless of the volunteers' own body shape and leg length, people whose legs were 5% longer than average were rated as the most attractive. The next most appealing was an average leg length, or those that were 10% longer than normal.

Are long legs on a girl attractive? ›

Studies have shown that men prefer women with longer-than-average legs and a higher leg-length-to-body ratio. Men's interest in women's legs may explain the preference for tall fashion models.

What is considered tall? ›

Average Height: In the United States, the average height for adult males is around 5'10" (1.78 meters) [1]. If a guy is significantly taller than the average height, he may be considered tall. Above Average: Typically, being around 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) or more above the average height can be considered tall [1].

Why is being tall attractive? ›

Tall men are seen as protective and strong.

While short men are just as capable of looking after their partners, tall guys exude a sense of safety that many women appreciate. When a shorter woman is with a taller man, she might feel like she doesn't have to worry about her own security or protection.

Is tall Girl attractive? ›

A lot depends on the face and figure of the girl rather than just height per se. However, holding all other factors constant, relatively tall girls (maybe 5′7 to 5′11) without being too tall are generally considered to be the most attractive.

What is the relationship between height and speed? ›

We find in general that the increase in speed is proportional to the square root of the change in vertical height. Alternatively, the change in height is proportional to the square of the speed.

Does height affect acceleration? ›

a = G*M/R², where a is the acceleration due to gravity, G is the universal gravitational constant, M is mass, and R is distance, which, at sea level, the average radius of the Earth is 6.376 * 10^6 m. For a height h, the acceleration due to gravity is: a = GM/(R+h)^2 … so it decreases as h grows.

Does height affect athletic performance? ›

Height can significantly influence success in sports, depending on how the design of the sport is linked to factors that are height-biased due to physics and biology. The balance of the intricate array of links will determine the degree to which height plays a role in success, if any.

How does height affect the speed of a car? ›

All vehicles with wheels roll easily down ramps due to gravity. The height of a ramp affects how far a vehicle with wheels will go and how fast the vehicle will travel. For example, the higher the ramp, the faster and further a vehicle will go.

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