Running Speed Conserves Energy

Effort and training are required to change what comes naturally to runners. These are words of wisdom that fit pros can share with clients who can’t seem to increase their running speed. In fact, it’s normal to default to an energy-efficient pace.

Researchers from Stanford University in California and Queens University in Toronto, analyzed wearable-tracker data to determine factors that impact natural running speed. “We intuitively assume that people run faster for shorter distances and then slow their pace for longer distances,” said lead study author Jessica Sellinger, PhD, an assistant professor of kinesiology and health studies at Queens University.

Data analysis from the activity trackers of over 37,000 runners, as well as runners in a lab, showed otherwise. People naturally tend to run at a pace that’s most energy efficient—regardless of distance. Researchers note the significance of being able to gather “free-living” data, instead of only lab-based measures. This real-life data enables new insights into how environment and lifestyle affect physical activity behaviors.

The study is reported in Current Biology (2022; 23 [1], 2309–15).

See also: Recurring Running Injuries