The Effectiveness of Running Power as a Metric of Exercise Intensity During Running Interval Training

Authors

Eric A. Lambert, Southern Utah UniversityFollow
Dustin W. Davis, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Matahn Blank, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Tashari A. carballo, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Elias M. Malek, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Kathryn Lei A. Lavin, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Thea SwederFollow
Nicole Argueta, Southern Utah UniversityFollow
Marcus M. Lawrence, Southern Utah UniversityFollow
James W. Navalta, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Jeffrey Cowley, Southern Utah UniversityFollow

Abstract

Wearable power meters are increasingly popular among runners with Coros and Stryd offering running power as a real-time, trackable of a metric. PURPOSE: This study compared running power (RP) to physiological measures, heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption (VO₂), across high and low intensity running intervals. METHODS: Thirteen adult participants (n = 6 male; height = 174.9 ± 6.9 cm; mass = 72.5 ± 12.0 kg) were equipped with a Stryd 27 RP meter, a Polar H10 HR monitor, and a Cosmed K5 portable metabolic unit. Participants’ self-selected RP was obtained during a 10-min run on an indoor track (10 laps/mile). After resting for five minutes, participants ran another 10 min, alternating between equal intervals of RP 20% higher and 20% lower than self-selected RP: 120 s × 2, 60 s × 2, 30 s × 4, and 15 s × 8. All devices were started simultaneously before each run. RP (W/kg) was sampled at 1 Hz. HR (bpm) and VO₂ (mL/kg/min) were sampled at 0.1 Hz throughout the interval run. Data were analyzed from the 60 s mark through the end of the run. HR and VO₂ data were interpolated to 1 Hz, and cross correlations (max lag = 60 s) were used to compare RP, HR, and VO₂ (mean values in Table 1). RESULTS: There were weak to moderate correlations between RP and VO₂ (r = 0.351; lag = -29.1 s), RP and HR (r = 0.475; lag = 9.38 s), and HR and VO₂ (r = 0.572; lag = -29.1 s; Table 2). CONCLUSION: HR showed the strongest correlation and smallest time delay with RP. This may be practically useful because HR data is more readily available to runners than VO₂. However, the correlation is only moderate. While related, the three metrics of running intensity are fundamentally different. When exercising at a moderate intensity, changes in HR or VO₂, which take seconds to minutes to stabilize, may be less evident than changes in mechanical power, which are immediate. Thus, it is possible that HR and VO₂ would show a stronger relationship with RP across intervals longer than the 120 s maximum observed here. While RP can be a useful metric, it may not be informative about physiological responses to running especially over short intervals or when running at high intensity.

Recommended Citation

Lambert, Eric A.; Davis, Dustin W.; Blank, Matahn; carballo, Tashari A.; Malek, Elias M.; Lavin, Kathryn Lei A.; Sweder, Thea; Argueta, Nicole; Lawrence, Marcus M.; Navalta, James W.; and Cowley, Jeffrey (2023) "The Effectiveness of Running Power as a Metric of Exercise Intensity During Running Interval Training," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 14: Iss. 3, Article 141.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol14/iss3/141