Long-distance triathlon glossary·RE

Running economy : Energy cost per kilometre

Run

The oxygen consumption (ml O2/kg/km) required to run at a given pace : the lower, the more efficient you are.

Running economy measures how much oxygen you consume to cover 1 km at a target pace. Two runners with identical VO2max can perform very differently if one has better economy. Key improvements come from a higher cadence (~175-185 spm), tendon stiffness (plyometrics), varied-surface running, and functional strength work. In triathlon, running economy is especially important as the run leg starts on legs already fatigued from swimming and cycling.

In TriPaced:

In TriPaced, functional strength blocks and high-cadence sessions prescribed in the plan aim to improve your running economy, optimising your final run speed in the Ironman.

Source Barnes K. & Kilding A., 2015 : Running Economy - Measurement, Norms and Determining Factors (Sports Medicine Open)

Related terms

  • Brick : the bike-run combo
  • Drop : heel-to-toe offset of a running shoe
  • Negative split : finishing faster than you started
  • Pace : Running pace (min/km)
  • Pacing : Race pace management
  • Drill : Isolated technique drill