Fans of Chi Running will know how do use this trick to gain ground on their opponents going downhill or on the flat, without any apparent effort. It's all in the technique and you can gain anything from 3 to 5 inches on every stride.....over a long training session or race that can be 1:30 mins per 5 miles. This is what the Chi Running book says:

"Every time your leg goes out behind you, let your hip be pulled along with it. This will allow your pelvis to rotate back and forth, causing a slight twist along your spine. Watch for that twist. It means your doing the right thing - relaxing your lower back and rotating your pelvis more. It happens because your hips are rotating counter to your shoulders.

You can do this at any speed. The faster you run, the more relaxed you'll need to be from the waist down. Relaxing your hips and pelvis will increase your stride length by 3 to 5 inches per stride...which then allows your speed to increae.....with no additonal effort"

Practice on a gentle downhill section first to get the feeling and rythmn, then try it on the flat.

Leave the leopardskin leggings at home Cat and you should be ok.