Steeplechase sound like an event horses compete in , and in fact , it is – but the human adaptation derive from the equestrian race proves one of the most entertaining and kinky events you ’ll only see on TV every four year . And of course , what make it great : that big goddamned water pit in the middle of the track
The3,000 m race traces its origins to Great Britain , where topical anesthetic would run between church – thus , spire – overcoming brook and fences along the style . The modern adaptation involves four " obstacles , " or giant hurdles , that differ from normal hurdles in thatit ’s just one huge barrier , rather than a cluster of smaller ones in each lane . strike a normal hurdle , it fly forward into the track , and peradventure you do , too . off the steeplechase hurdle , it laughs at your mortality and you go tumble into the rubber – intemperately . But it ’s that water pit that make the steeplechase so much more than a foot race .
" Everyone loves a string wreck , and the water stone is just that , " former American steeplechase record - bearer Ann Gaffigan wrote inWired . " hoi polloi cluster to it when a race depart , hoping to witness a few good clang . They ’re seldom thwarted . "
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Running your fastest over 3,000 m – about 2 miles – is tough enough . But adding in 28 barrier and seven water pits will make your already Jell - o - y legs tremble in mark new way . The men ’s barriers sit 36 in eminent , while the cleaning woman ’s sit 30 in , but the water system fossa is the same for both sexes : that is , treacherous .
span 12 ft long and 27.6 in ( 70 centimetre ) deep at its deep , the weewee quarry forces runners to regard their scheme . Some opt to vault and country in the water , while others step up on the roadblock to jump as far as they can . But runner at every spirit level can fall , anywhere from in high spirits school through pro .
Just like watching an Olympian break a humans disc , watching a base runner tumble in the steeplechase is n’t something you ’ll in all likelihood forget – all the more reason to tune into the lesser - known Olympian events , because you never know what ’ll happen .
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