Stride length

Also known as: step length

The distance covered between two consecutive contacts of the same foot — one half of the running speed equation alongside cadence.

Why it matters

Stride length matters because increasing it by overreaching usually creates braking forces, while a slightly shorter, quicker stride is often more efficient.

What it means

Stride length is one half of the speed equation (speed = cadence × stride length). Reaching for stride length by overextending the lead leg causes overstriding; the better path is to lengthen the back side of the stride through hip extension. Runners chasing more speed often try to lengthen the front of the stride first, which is exactly backwards from what the biomechanics research supports.