I’m going to run the steeplechase at a track meet in Clermont on Feb 18.
What do I need to know to survive this thing?
Don’t trip. And no, the water is NOT heated.
I can’t swim. Will that be a problem?
There are few things funnier at a track meet than getting to watch the novice steeplechasers trying to figure the race out. My college track teammates and I always tried to be in a position to watch the water jump for those races because it was pure comedy gold.
Don’t take it personally if anyone laughs at you. It’s to be expected.
I remember seeing a race where Henry Marsh tripped into the water jump on either the next to last lap and still won the race. Amazing. Got to see him live when he came up to the UW in… '83? Maybe it was '85. Carl Lewis was there too. Ran the 4x100 going away.
I’ve been known to throw in a few steeple pit jumps in the middle of track intervals for kicks. In my unexperienced experience, here’s what you need to know:
1 - Those barriers are thick and don’t move. They’re not like normal hurdles that you can just plow through if needed. Make sure you hit them right. You can hurdle them but you don’t want to smack your knee on them trying.
2 - The water pit is a pretty long jump. Time your jump so you hit and push off the barrier with one foot. Make your “jump” as long as possible while remaining fluid. You don’t want to land two-footed and stop your forward motion. That is, try to make it a long, fluid stride. It hurts if you two-foot it and I imagine you’ll have about 5 people on your back if you come to a dead stop.
I’ve always thought that’s one of the strangest events on the circuit. Please send photos.
-C
If you want to, you can tread on the top of the hurdle as you go over, but I wouldn’t recommend this as I think it slows you down.
And yes, if you hit them they won’t fall - but you will!
To get over the hurdle, try and get over it in huge stride fashion - try not to think of it like a “jump”, or you will find yourself losing loads of momentum.
Good job on finding a real mans race. What distance is it 3000 or 5000?
How many trial jumps do you reckon I need before the big day?
What shoes do the racers wear?
Do you jump up on one foot, push off with the other, then land with the first foot? Or do you push off with the first foot and land with the other foot?
3000 m.
Do you jump up on one foot, push off with the other, then land with the first foot? Yes,
What shoes do the racers wear? track spikes
How many trial jumps do you reckon I need before the big day? A LOT
steeple was my event in high school and college (8:58 PR).
I would say since this is your first time, plan on stepping on most of the hurdles. Even in my fastest races, I would step on the hurdles for the first lap or two when in congestion and then hurdle them the last half of the race. Best way to step hurdle them is to push off with your left foot on the fground, right foot goes forward onto the top of the hurdle and as your body is going over the hurdle, you push off the hurdle with that same (right) foot and you land on your left foot. It requires less energy to step hurdle then it does to just plain hurdle the whole thing and is a bit safer. For the water jump, same routine but be sure to push off a bit harder remembering to push out, not straight up. Most steeplechasers will still get one foot wet, the landing foot, and then their next step is usually dry. Track spikes are best for this event, but if you haven’t worn spikes in a long time, be prepared, your calves are really going to be sore the next day or two. If you don’t wear spikes, wear some light shoes so that when they get wet they don’t feel like cement blocks.
Good luck!!
Just found out this particular race is 2000m, so I guess it’s steeple lite. It’s still going to kick my as though.
Thanks for the coaching. I’ll go practice.
Spikes, and NO SOCKS!
(thinking back… DUH!)
Cool.
a couple of other thoughts, preactice your step routine so that you know if you are better leading with your right foot or left foot. Something that I always found made my hurdling better/faster is to take off early and stretch out more for the hurdle. Reach for it, as opposed to trying to clear it from too close in.
2000m is the distance we ran the steeple for high school, still a tough distance when you put all of those barriers in the way 
This was my event in college. It is a great event. I agree with Mike on a majority of his comments. Definitely step on every barrier. Practice this. Get used to doing it with either foot. The water jump is a bit different and I differ from Mike’s advice. Some of my teammates used Mike’s philosophy well. Some of us didn’t. Make sure you put your dominant foot on the barrier. Most people are apprehensive about the water and naturally speed up. Therefore, I recommend pushing up and allowing your momentum to carry you into the water. Get used to landing. Once you get the hang of it, you will only get one foot wet. However, I couldn’t stand one wet and one dry, so I would get both wet at some point. Do NOT land on both feet in the water. They make special steeple spikes that allow the water out. Distance spikes will soak up the water. Sprinter spikes are useless.
Good luck on your maiden voyage. I wouldn’t plan anything for the day after.
Watch out for the gold fish in the water.
Steeplechase - The track event of kings the king of track events!
Listen to what Coach Plumb said - he said it all
2000m is the distance we used to run in highschool and when we were juniors. I actually competed agaist Mike P a few times, but he was a bit better then me. He was very good. My best was 6:05 for 2000m and 9:2something for 3000m.
Know that the Kenyans RULE this event. However, interestingly as the photo you posted shows they have some of the WORST form over the barriers. It’s scary what some of these guys could run if that could hurdle well.
It’s a race where strategy and positioning play an even bigger role than in a straight race. The barriers can really mess up the pacing and being able to follow breaks.
Fleck
If you do go down in the water, try not to swallow one of the fish!