Running economy is defined as the energy demand for a given velocity of running. If someone has good running economy it basically means they use less energy to run at a certain speed than someone else. Using advanced video analysis techniques, we can help you optimise your running economy and reduce injury risk for the future (see below).
If you use less energy to run at a certain speed, you will be able to maintain it for longer. This is obviously very important when it comes to performance. There is a very strong correlation between running economy and endurance running performance. It is often a better predictor of performance than an athlete’s
maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max).
There are lots of factors that effect running economy; for example, by changing running technique you can reduce the braking forces associated with contact and reduce the vertical displacement (up and down movement of the body). Kryolainen et al (2001) found that the average braking forces of each step accounted for approximately 80% of the difference in running economy in track runners. Running economy is also very closely linked with physiological characteristics like lactate threshold, VO2 max, perfusion of the muscles, flexibility, strength and weight (see our Science of Performance page).
