Hurdling

Hurdling is a track and field sport that sees a competitor running over obstacles as part of the race. In considering a history of hurdling, first know that athletic contests involving running are as old as civilization itself, the first semi-organized Olympics taking place way back in 776 B.C.E. The first documented use of hurdling to increase the difficulty of racing took place in England about the year 1830. Wooden barriers were placed around the race at a distance of about 100 yeards. In 1864 the first use of times were recorded out of Oxford and Cambridge. Today in the new millennium, hurdling continues to be a popular contest -- and one difficult to master.

The Rules Of Hurdling

In hurdling contests, there are sprint hurdle races and long hurdle races. For sprint hurdle races the race is 110 meters for men and 100 for women. For long hurdles races the standard is 400 meters for both men and women. Each of these races is run over ten hurdles. However, 110 hurdles or 400 is not always the norm. Sometimes in indoor track and field events sprint hurdles can be 60 meters with only 4 hurdles, or 200-300 meters. This is often done in high school competitions. You may have even heard of a 120 yard high hurdles race at El Cerrito high school.

When it comes to hurdle heights, there are two standards: high hurdles and intermediate hurdles. In sprint races, (between 60 – 110 m) high hurdles are used, are measure about 42 inches for men and 33 inches for women. Long hurdle races (about 400 m) use intermediate hurdles which are 36 inches high for men and 30 inches for women. For teenage track hurdles, such as in high school hurdles are slightly lowered.

Hurdling Technique

Hurdle drills are exercises used by participants to warm up or practice their hurdle training. These techniques, which may involve hurdle walking, leg isolation and stride patterns, are used in Olympic hurdles training and by students for their track and field experience.

What is the secret on the hurdle technique? While many may try just running hurdles and building speed, the experts realize that having a perfect form is far more important in improving accuracy and conserving energy. When experienced runners approach hurdles they stride out their steps and push away from the ground with their back legs, while leading with the knee. The runner does this so that he or she can minimize any deviation that takes place from the normal running technique. The answer for how to make hurdles lies in the runner straightening the leg at the top of the flight path and then over the hurdle.

Hurdling is a difficult technique to master but truly a thing of beauty when you see a runner race the track flawlessly.