Run Quickly to Save More Energy

Did you know that it’s more challenging to run slow than running faster? A lot of runners think that if they run quickly more often,  they increase their risk of injury. This is a message the running shoe industry puts out, so you will buy their cushy shoes for more protection. But, if you run with a forefoot strike, your body has a safer exchange with the ground, rather than if you ran with a heel strike, which is blamed for most running injuries. Anyways, how fast should you really be running?

Run quickly to handle your forefoot running mechanics better. So how fast should you run? The sweet spot seems to be around 13 km/hr and faster. How come?

Why Running Fast May Be Safter than Running Slow
Studies have shown that running speed has an effect on running form! Running at faster running speeds, especially while using a forefoot strike, can make other elements of your forefoot running mechanics fall into sync more quickly which may translate into less impact production as compared to jogging slowly which may amplify certain impact force variables.

 

Run Quickly to Save More Energy

When forefoot runners increase their running speed, their foot strike and leg swing mechanics improve as compared with jogging.

Good forefoot running mechanics includes greater ankle plantar flexion at touchdown, a lower center mass, and a higher step frequency –all of which are optimized when running at speeds 13 km/hr or faster. The end result, a lesser brake/push duration ratio, low frequency load components and greater elastic contributions of the lower leg (Lacour and Bourdin, 2015).

Wont running faster increase the risk of injury?

If you were a heel striker, then running faster would raise your risk of injury, however this is not the case for forefoot runners because stride frequency naturally increases with running speed during forefoot running, which in turn reduces ground contact time, thereby limiting impact stress of each step, especially over long distances (Millet et al. 2012).

Running Slow Makes You Less Efficient

Running too slow may prevent you from optimizing your forefoot running mechanics because you are idling in deceleration mode. Remember, forefoot running is for running fast, which is why sprinters use a forefoot strike, running too slow will therefore, cloud your technique.

  • Slower running drains energy because vertical deceleration is greater which reduces the capacity of the muscles to reuse stored energy, and more muscular work is needed for propulsion (Lacour and Bourdin, 2015).

Even when you feel tired, try running faster because it shifts you closer to the optimum balance of good form and energy usage.

To make sure I don’t fall off pace, I use the Garmin Forerunner 305 which beeps to alert me when I’ve slowed down. Ideally, you want a GPS watch with the ‘pace alert function’, this will help you maintain a fast, even pace.

More From Run Forefoot:

How to Treat Achilles Injury – Find out an easier way a forefoot runner can effectively treat an Achilles tendon injury.

Foot Nerves – Find out how going barefoot affects the nerves in the feet as compared with wearing cushioned running shoes.

Best Shoes for Forefoot Runners – Here are my reviews on the best forefoot running shoes for you!

Why Run Forefoot – An overview as to why I feel forefoot running is the way humans were designed to run.

Injury Prevention – Learn how forefoot running mechanically can prevent injuries better than heel strike running.


References:

Lancour JR and Bourdin M. Factors affecting the energy cost of level running at submaximal seed. Eur J Appl Physiol, 2015;

Millet GY, Hoffman MD, Morin JB (2012) Sacrificing economy to improve running performance—a reality in the ultramarathon? J Appl Physiol 113:507–509.

P.S. Don't forget to check out the Run Forefoot Facebook Page, it's a terrific place to ask questions about forefoot running, barefoot running and injury. I'm always happy to help!

1 Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.