The men's steeplechase event requires participants to jump over thirty-five 0.914-meter-tall obstacles, 4 rigid barriers and 1 fixed barrier followed by a 3.66-meter-long water pit per lap, over a 3000-meter distance. This study investigated the effect of increasing running velocity, through a range of 5.33 m/s to 6.66 m/s, on takeoff and landing ground reaction forces, for males during steeplechase hurdling using a force plate embedded under a track surface. Subjects completed 1 trial within each of 6 different pace ranges in a random order, once with a hurdle following the force plate to measure the takeoff ground reaction forces and a second time with the hurdle prior to the force plate to measure the landing ground reaction forces. Within a repeated measures linear mixed model during takeoff, peak vertical force (r2 = 0.1968, p < 0.01) and horizontal propulsive impulse (r2 = 0.0287, p = 0.02) were positively correlated with increasing velocity, and ground time (r2 = 0.1904, p < 0.01) was negatively correlated with increasing velocity. Within a repeated measures linear mixed model during landing, vertical impact force loading rate (r2 = 0.0099, p < 0.01) was positively correlated with increasing velocity and ground time (r2 = 0.2889, p < 0.01), vertical impulse (r2 = 0.1704, p = 0.02), and horizontal braking impulse (r2 = 0.0004, p = 0.05) were negatively correlated with increasing velocity. As male steeplechasers prepared to hurdle at increasing speeds, they produced a greater peak vertical force on the takeoff step while decreasing the ground time during takeoff, and increasing the horizontal propulsive impulse to carry themselves beyond the hurdle. While landing from the hurdle at increasing speeds, the athlete decreased the amount of time spent on the landing stance and the vertical impulse, and increased the magnitude of horizontal braking impulse and vertical loading rate. The relationships of these variables: takeoff peak vertical force, takeoff ground time, takeoff horizontal impulse, landing ground time, and landing vertical loading rate to increasing velocity were all comparable to overground running responses. The data differed from running by not indicating any change in hurdling takeoff horizontal braking impulse; however, the horizontal braking impulse did increase on hurdling landing. It was expected to decrease on hurdling landing due to the foot landing more underneath the center of mass after hurdling compared to running. The decrease in landing vertical impulse as speed increased also differed from normal running steps. We suggest that further research include kinematic measures to better understand the relationship between these variables as hurdling velocity increases.

Research surrounding the steeplechase is scarce, with most research focusing primarily on how biomechanical factors relate to maintaining running speed while crossing barriers. One area that has not been well explored is the relationship between biomechanical factors and hurdling economy. The purpose of this study was to investigate how performance times and biomechanical variables relate to hurdling economy during the steeplechase. This was accomplished by measuring running economy of collegiate and professional steeplechasers while running with and without hurdles. Biomechanical measures of approach velocity, take-off distance, clearance height, and lead knee extension while hurdling, as well as steeplechase performance times were correlated to a ratio of running economy with and without hurdles. Results indicated no correlation between steeplechase performance time and the ratio of running economy during the hurdle and non-hurdle laps. Results also indicated no correlation between the aforementioned biomechanical variables and ratio of running economy during the hurdle and non-hurdle laps. Increasing approach velocity did not negatively affect running economy. Steeplechasers may continue to increase approach velocity without hurting their economy or performance times.

In the sport of track and field, proper hurdling technique is a complicated combination of various running and jumping kinematics. With most research having been done on sprint hurdling, there is a growing need for research on hurdling events of different lengths. The intermediate hurdles (IH) and the steeplechase (SC) are two events where there are a number of differences in hurdling technique. This study compared the differences in hurdling technique between events (IH and SC) as well as the differences in technique between genders. Subjects for this study consisted of 20 elite intermediate hurdlers (10 male, 10 female) and 20 elite steeplechasers (10 male, 10 female). Subjects were filmed performing their respective events at the 2006 USA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships. A 2-D analysis was performed on each subject to determine differences between events and genders for the following variables: loss of horizontal velocity, peak center of mass relative to hurdle height, horizontal position at peak center of mass, deviation angle at takeoff, hurdle step length, penultimate, and recovery step lengths, takeoff and landing distance, minimum lead leg hip angle, trail leg knee height relative to the hip at peak height, trunk angle at peak height, landing angle, and finally, the ratio of the recovery step to the penultimate step. Significant differences (p < .05) were observed in 11 of the 13 variables analyzed. Steeplechasers showed significantly higher values than hurdlers in deviation angle, landing angle, minimum lead leg hip angle, peak height over the barrier, takeoff and landing distances, as well as penultimate, hurdle and recovery step lengths. Trail leg knee height was shown to be higher for hurdlers. Also, female steeplechasers were shown to have a greater trunk angle and loss of horizontal velocity than female hurdlers. Females showed higher values than males in deviation angle, landing angle, minimum lead leg hip angle, and peak height over the barrier. Landing distance, hurdle step length and trail leg knee height were higher for males. Also, female steeplechasers had a longer penultimate step length than males. Several differences in hurdling technique exist between events and gender. Hurdlers appear to place more emphasis on the kinematics which helps to promote a low center of mass hurdle clearance. Steeplechasers, on the other hand, are less pronounced with their hurdling kinematics. This is likely due to the greater economy required of the longer event. Gender differences appear to be, in large part, a function of differences in barrier height. As athletes and coaches go about evaluating and training hurdling technique, it is important to recognize the differences that exist between these different events.

The thesis is focused on the discoursive analysis of the Great Pardubice Steeplechase phenomenon. The race, which is considered to be the most difficult and the longest hurdle race on the European continent. In the introductory part is explained the metodology of discourse analysis, together with the technique of data collection. The work also includes a brief history of Par force hunting, which was the cause of this race creation. The empirical part of this thesis is focused on the analysis of articles from local newspapers of the period from 1880 to 2011. For greater clarity was divided into four chapters - four different historic periods - that influenced the development of the Great Pardubice Steeplechase. There is also a chapter analysing interviews contents, which were conducted on this topic. The work introduces the reader with an unusual view of this race, as the previously released publications were dedicated only to outstanding personalities whose fates were linked with the race. This piece is on the contrary focused on important aspects in its development, both in historical and social point of view.