The Biomechanics of Sprinting: Force 2 (Training Wisdom Collection)

Why are some athletes faster than others?What actually changes when sprint speed increases?And which of those changes can training meaningfully influence?Force 2: The Biomechanics of Sprinting examines sprint performance through the lens of mechanics rather than technique. Instead of beginning with how sprinting looks, the book focuses on what causes movement – the forces athletes apply to the ground – and how these forces shape running speed.The book first explores the kinematics of maximum-velocity sprinting, showing why many commonly cited technical features are consequences of speed rather than its cause. It then develops a kinetic framework based on impulse, contact time, and force production to explain why the fastest athletes are able to tolerate extremely short ground contact times while maintaining effective stride mechanics. Finally, it examines how these forces are produced by the musculoskeletal system, including the roles of posture, spring–mass behaviour, muscle–tendon function, and biological constraints.Rather than offering drills or technical cues, Force 2 aims to clarify the physical determinants of sprint performance and to identify which variables are genuinely modifiable through training. The goal is not to prescribe technique, but to provide a clearer understanding of why sprint performance differs between athletes, and how training can influence those differences.This book is for:Strength and conditioning coachesSprint and track & field coachesSports scientists and biomechanics studentsPractitioners seeking a mechanics-based understanding of speedClear, analytical, and grounded in biomechanics, Force 2 provides a principled framework for understanding sprint performance and for making more informed training decisions. Read more