# Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING]

NARRATOR
We are appealing to your inner geek, as we get out the blocks with the precision science of track sprinting.
DR. NEAL SMITH
The sprint start is all about generating power, so we need to be very quick to leave the blocks. So you'll notice that sprinters will have very short, staccato-like steps at the beginning of a race to try and generate as much force, and the friction that they interact on the ground, as the spikes touch the track surface, to try and propel forwards.
When we multiply force by the amount of time that we spend applying that force, we get something that's called impulse. The greater impulse that we can then generate will mean that we can help to propel our centre of gravity forwards out the blocks as quickly as we possibly can.
From a biomechanics point of view, we need pieces of kit that will help us slow down that technique so we can understand what is happening at every foot contact. We'll use things like three-dimensional motion capture, to help us monitor the movements of the arms and the legs. And we'll also use things like force transducers to try and help us understand the forces under the feet that are generated during the sprint start.
DR. SCOTT WEISS
Not only is it important getting out of the blocks, but you'll see them always keeping their head down to maintain peak velocity. Once peak velocity is hit, you start to see the gaze, and the eyes go up towards the finish line. And that's where they try to maintain that speed.