Comparison of Running Power to Metabolic Cost at Various Submaximal Running Speeds and Inclinations

Abstract

Running pace is one of the primary measures of running intensity, however, variations in grade limit quantifying intensity solely based on pace. With the advent of wearable running power meters, runners can address the external work stimulus inclusive of pace and grade. PURPOSE: The purpose was to compare running power measured by a Running Power Meter to the metabolic cost of running at different speeds and inclinations. METHODS: 5 collegiate cross country runners (male n=2, age=21±1.414 yrs, weight=69.8±3.960 kg, height=180±4.243 cm; female n=3, age=19.67±0.577 yrs, weight=54.07±2.290 kg, height=164.33±10.263 cm) participated in 10 trials of submaximal running at different speeds and inclinations. Subjects first completed an LT test to determine submaximal running speed with lactate collected and analyzed (Lactate Pro) via blood samples taken by finger prick. During subsequent submaximal running trials, metabolic and ventilatory measures were collected with a portable breath-by-breath analyzer (COSMED K5). Speed was controlled by a rider on a bicycle that was equipped with a speedometer. Spearmen’s Correlation was run between relative VO2 values and running power for males, females, and all subjects. RESULTS: There is a statistically significant, strong positive correlation between relative VO2 and running power for male (R=0.778; P<0.001), female (R=0.846; P<0.001), and combined male and female collegiate cross country runners (R=0.602; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results support that running power is positively related to VO2, which may indicate a strong relationship with running intensity.