Basics - Run

1. The vaulter needs to run as fast as possible while maintaining good, upright body posture -- keeping the shoulders square (parallel) to the back of the box.
2. The pole should be on the right side of the vaulter with the right (top) hand close to the right hip, and the left hand extended in front of the vaulter.
3. Both elbows should be bent. It is incorrect for the right (top) arm to be locked out during the run. This results in carrying the pole too high in the air and an inefficient takeoff. The front (left) hand does most of the work for me, the back (right) hand is little more than an anchor -- therefore I rotate my hand around on top of the pole and grip with my thumb and first finger only in a pinching like grip. Then as the pole passes my face in the plant, my right hand rotates and takes a firm grip of the pole.
4. The knees should be high -- parallel to the ground -- throughout the run.
5. Think of "punching" the ground with each step rather than "running over" each step. The less time you spend on the ground, the faster you will run.