There is a right way to run

[zoser]

For eons there has been a fundamental debate about running. There are prominent coaches out there today that swear everyone is different and you cannot change them for fear of making them slower. This is absolute snake oil and the excuse of the incapable.
Biomechanics and physics say otherwise, as does histories fastest and best runners. The interesting thing is you only find this belief when it comes to sprinting. Distance runners are taught the latest techniques in running if for no other reaosn than to conserve energy. Jumpers are taught how to leave the board and take off. Vaulter the same. Hurdlers have to be correct. Oh but when it comes to sprinting we get all the excuses in the world about why people are individuals and there is no cookie cutter way to run.
We are always working at resisting gravity, and in order to do this the fastest way possible we have to do it in the most efficient way possible. That is the simplest way to say it.

[sprint logic]

There is a such thing as mechanics. And while everyone's physical make up may change those mechanics slightly, there is still an optimal mechanical set for every individual. A smart coach is able to help an athlete maximize his or her "skill set" to hit their maximum form.

[zoser]

Yes. Too many still want to treat this sport as a weekend warrior event. Those days of Bob Hayes hopping down the track are over. The side part is there are some prominent athletes that are highly successful not being trained properly and we see them injured as they get older.
The confusion comes when we start talking about speed and success. All of us are unique in our build and muscularity, running with proper mechanics will make some marginally faster, than say if they never changed a thing, but at the same time as long as these athletes are healthy their talent is not going to disappear. Thus, they will have some level of success. What you will notice in those with bad mechanics is inconsistency and/or injuries. For some the injuries are chronic, for others they develop over time as their bodies change and fatigue. Think in terms of NASCAR, in the beginning of the race we see all the cars are fast, but all of a sudden you see engines start to break. Poorly constructed, wear and tear, or misaligned, the pieces start to break down. Same with the human body. Our muscles are very well coordinated, and when one is compensating or doing a job it is not designed to do eventually it wears down and breaks.