Physiological aspects of running economy

Abstract

The study of running economy has important performance implications for the long-distance runner and may provide insight into mechanisms underlying economical human locomotion. Physiological aspects of running economy discussed in this paper include intraindividual variability, body temperature, heart rate, ventilation, muscle fiber type, gender, air and wind resistance, altitude, fatigue, and training. The lack of consensus evident in the literature regarding many of these variables and their influence on economy supports the use of expanded sample sizes featuring both genders, standard testing conditions, and cross- and interdisciplinary approaches to help explain group economy differences observed in descriptive and experimental paradigms and to extend the generalizability of research findings.