Runners continue for a total of seven and a half laps, passing five equally spaced barriers on each lap.
Where the hell did the water well come from?
Okay, the watering hole is… weird. Steeplechase racing, in all its soggy glory, probably originated from the equestrian event of the same name. In the earliest equine steeplechase races, jockeys raced between towns in 18th-century Ireland, navigating a course using pointed church steeples as guides, like Washington Post reported. Along the way, the horses crossed natural barriers, including fences, stone walls, streams and rivers. (Sound familiar?)
Eventually the event transformed from a horse race to a foot race, but still retained the drama of the wet and dry obstacles. According to BritishThe human-powered steeplechase was first contested as a cross-country event in 1850 at Oxford University. The men’s steeplechase became an Olympic event in 1920, although the women’s race did not make it to the Games until 88 years later.
So…do your feet get wet?
We’re sorry to have to answer the most pressing question in the affirmative: Yes, runners’ feet do get wet. But most obstacle course athletes don’t wear socks, and their running shoes (called spikes) are so lightweight and form-fitting that runners aren’t sloshing around in heavy, soggy shoes. So even if they’re running in water, it may not be as uncomfortable as it sounds.
How to win an obstacle course?
As in any track event, the first to cross the finish line wins. But winning the steeplechase requires different skills than races that keep runners on solid ground. The water course, in particular, demands more tactical finesse. Unlike the sprint hurdles, runners charge forward as they approach the water jump, step over the barrier and launch themselves into the water.
You need to step in with confidence: “The most important thing is to try not to stutter or take little baby steps in and out of the hurdles,” says Howard, who explains that runners often need to jump toward a hurdle even if someone is blocking their view. As for landing, one foot is better than two. “If you ‘put two feet in to land,’ as we call it, you’re just losing a lot of momentum,” says Howard.
Because the jumps are so tactical and there is so much room for error, the race can change dramatically after a water jump, making it a particularly exciting event for spectators.
Who should we keep an eye on in Paris?
First things first, Howard! The day after talking to SELF, Howard punched his ticket to Paris at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, finishing third behind Valeria Constien It is Courtney Wayment. A Boise State graduate and former school nurse, Howard — who is backed by running apparel brand Tracksmith but doesn’t have a big-name traditional sponsor (yet) — had a career-best performance at the trials, breaking her personal best by 15 seconds to make her first Olympic team at age 31.
Constien, who is sponsored by Nike, also ran a personal best time, breaking the meet record in 9:03.22 to become the national steeplechase champion. The 28-year-old Colorado native represented Team USA in the steeplechase in Tokyo, where she placed 12th, so she has some Olympic experience under her belt. Wayment, a 25-year-old athlete sponsored by On, also ran a personal best time at the trials (finishing in 9:06.55); she brings a 2022 NCAA steeplechase title to the Games.
Ugandan steeplechaser Peruth Chemutai and Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech won’t make things easy for Team USA, but we’ll be watching and rooting for them. Catch all the Olympic steeplechaser action starting with a qualifying round on August 4 and the finals on August 6.
SELF is your one-click source for all things Summer Olympics. Read our latest coverage from the Paris Games here.
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