Advantages Of Running Economy

Furthermore, genetically determined physiological advantages exist between people, which explain a significant amount of talent observed. These advantages due to body size, shape, or running style are due to an improvement in one’s running economy. Running economy is the rate at which the body uses oxygen at certain speeds, and the better a person’s running economy is, they more efficient they are at running (Epstein 197). Running economy is a significant factor which explains much of the differences found between trained runners, as a better running economy can compensate for a worse VO2max score and a good VO2max score and compensate for a poor running economy. It is considered to be like a car’s fuel economy, with some people having greater

The achilles heel is a tendon that affects the way a human’s feet rebound after impact, and it allows energy return with every step, making it the tendon which allows humans to run and jump. As humans have evolved to become bipeds and walk on two feet, the achilles heel became significantly longer over time because of its use in saving energy while walking on two feet. This evolutionary fact is reflected in an observed characteristic of top runners: that they have significantly longer than average achilles heel length. This is a reflected in a study by Amy Burfoot that analyzed the morphology of elite Kenyan distance runners compared to a control population. Burfoot found that they were, on average, 2.7 inches longer than a control population of similar height and were significantly more efficient in rebound of energy from the muscles. The proof of how this difference in length from the average person matters to accordance to running economy is seen in a study comparing different thicknesses and lengths of achilles heels in runners. In the study, it was found that a ten percent longer than average achilles heel length for a person’s height resulted in an 8 percent improvement in running economy, and a 10 percent decrease in thickness resulted in a 3 percent improvement in running economy compared to a control (Hamilton). Moreover, when the opposite was studied, where a 10 percent shorter than average achilles heel correlated with a 6 percent decrease in running economy, (Hamilton) reinforcing the notion that it is an important morphological characteristic in terms of running economy. Summing up, the length of the achilles heel in humans is an important characteristic associated with talent in long distance running due to its heavy effect on a person’s running