15/01/2026
The Surutani U-turn / Japanese U-turn (the wide swing to the outer edge before a turn) looks smart on reels, but in real marathon racing it has several disadvantages, especially outside elite, controlled conditions.
1. You actually run more distance
⏩Hugging the apex (inside line) is the shortest path.
* A wide U-turn adds extra meters every turn.
* In a marathon with multiple turns, those extra meters add up to lost seconds–minutes.
2. Higher injury risk without long practice
Wide turns increase:
* Ankle inversion risk
* Knee valgus stress
* Achilles and peroneal strain
⚠️ On tired legs (after 30 km), this is a classic recipe for a sprain.
3. Braking forces waste energy
* Wide turns require deceleration > redirection > re-acceleration.
* That costs glycogen and neuromuscular energy.
* In a marathon, energy economy matters more than micro-techniques.
4. Not useful at non-elite speeds
* At 3:00–3:30 marathon pace or slower:
* Centrifugal force is negligible.
* There is no biomechanical advantage.
* Elites at 2:05–2:10 with clean roads and rehearsed lines are a different case.
5. Traffic & crowd chaos
* Indian marathons are rarely empty:
* Runners
* Volunteers
* Barricades
* Swinging wide increases chances of collision or forced braking.
6. Mental load when fatigued
* Late race fatigue reduces proprioception.
❌Thinking about turn geometry at 35–40 km is unnecessary cognitive stress.
7. Looks scientific, performs worse
* It’s Instagram-efficient, not race-efficient.
* Most PRs are set by runners who:
* Run tangents
* Hug corners
* Maintain rhythm
What actually works better
* Run tangents.
* Hug the inside of turns.
* Slight lean from ankles, not hips.
* Maintain cadence, don’t surge.
Bottom line
The Japanese U-turn is a track-sport technique misapplied to road marathons.
For most runners, it:
* Adds distance
* Wastes energy
* Increases injury risk
Just run normally and hug the corner.
