Casey Austin

Date of Award

5-2018

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Kinesiology

First Advisor

James Hokanson, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Peter M. McGinnis, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Steve Patrick, M.S.

Abstract

A novel running wearable called the Stryd Summit footpod attaches to a runner’s right or left shoe and measures running power output. The developers of the product purport that the footpod’s power and form power measures may correlate with metabolic data gathered in a lab. PURPOSE: Explore the relationship between power output and running economy at threshold pace. METHODS: Seventeen well-trained distance runners, 9 males and 8 females, completed a running protocol at threshold pace. Participants ran two discontinuous four-minute stages: one with their self-selected cadence (SS), and one with cadence lowered by 10% (LC). Metabolic data, power, and form power output were recorded for each cadence condition. RESULTS: Average self-selected cadence was 179.60 strides·min-1 (±8.43), while lowered cadence was 172.54 strides·min-1 (±9.46). Average change in cadence from SS to LC was 3.93%. The average running economy expressed in terms of oxygen cost (±SD) at self-selected cadence was 201.58 ml·kg-1·km-1 (±12.80), and at lowered cadence was 204.48 ml·kg-1·km-1 (±11.48). Average caloric unit cost at SS was 1.05 kcal·kg-1·km-1 (±0.07), and at LC was 1.06 kcal·kg-1·km-1 (±0.06). Average power at SS was 4.37 W·kg-1 (±0.48), and at LC was 4.42 W·kg-1 (±0.49). Average form power at SS was 1.07 W·kg-1 (±0.09), and at LC was 1.13 W·kg-1 (±0.10). CONCLUSIONS: The present findings show that measures of running economy expressed in terms of oxygen cost and caloric unit cost are positively correlated with Stryd’s power and form power measures.

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