Honors Theses
Advisor
Matthew Beerse, Ph.D.
Department
Health and Sport Science
Publication Date
4-23-2025
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Abstract
The relationship between step rate (SR) and oxygen consumption (VO2) is non-linear, with an individual’s optimal SR minimizing VO2. Prior studies suggest highly trained runners do not self-select this optimal SR, though most research has focused on submaximal speeds. This study assessed whether highly trained male distance runners self-optimize SR at a performance pace. Twelve participants (22.5 ± 3.7 years) completed nine 4-minute treadmill trials at 4.96 m/s. The first trial was self-paced; remaining trials were metronome-cued (170–200 steps/min). VO2 was plotted against SR and modeled with a second-order polynomial to estimate optimal SR. Four participants were excluded due to an inability to estimate their optimal SR. Among the remaining eight, self-selected SRs (186 ± 8) exceeded optimal SRs (179 ± 9), though not significantly (p = 0.13). VO2 was 0.5 mL/kg/min lower at optimal SR (0.96% improvement, p = 0.06), largely driven by one participant. Excluding this outlier reduced the mean improvement to 0.52%. These findings suggest that SR manipulation may yield a meaningful improvement in running economy (RE) on an individual basis, but further investigation is necessary to generalize this finding.
Permission Statement
This item is protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) and may only be used for noncommercial, educational, and scholarly purposes.
Keywords
Undergraduate research
eCommons Citation
Clemens, Noah, "Step-Rate Manipulation for Improved Running Economy at a Performance" (2025). Honors Theses. 466.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/uhp_theses/466
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