Category: sports science

heat and humidity, running

Heat and humidity: How they affect running performance

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Running in conditions characterised by high temperature and humidity places significant physiological stress on the body, affecting not only comfort but also performance and safety. A thorough understanding of how heat and humidity influence thermoregulation and endurance capacity allows runners to develop effective strategies for training, competition, and recovery. By integrating evidence-based insights into preparation and pacing, athletes can optimise performance even in challenging conditions.

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running economy

How to Improve Running Economy

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Running economy is one of the most powerful, and often misunderstood, determinants of endurance performance. It describes the amount of oxygen your body requires to sustain a given running speed. It helps explain why some runners are consistently faster and fatigue later than others, even when traditional fitness markers appear similar. Two athletes may share the same VO₂ max, yet the runner who moves more efficiently will cover more distance at the same physiological cost. Improving running economy, therefore, is not just about fitness, but also about how effectively your body converts energy into forward motion.

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Running ground contact time – how to improve?

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Ground contact time (GCT) measures the time the foot spends on the ground during a running stride. The less time you spend on the ground, the more efficient running is. Fast ground contact time increases running speed and makes running more economical.

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biomechanics

The Role of Biomechanics in Running: How Proper Technique Enhances Performance and Reduces Injury Risk

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Collaboration with Ochy – running biomechanics app

Biomechanics goes together with physiology, combining different areas. Running biomechanics have been studied a lot, but studies have not been able to demonstrate the superiority of one running technique over others. There are as many running styles as there are runners. There are as many differences among professionals as there are among regular runners. One technique is not more optimal or more prone to injury than others.

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How Cycling Can Improve Your Running Performance.

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Collaboration with Bikemap.

Combining different forms of exercise can be beneficial in terms of improving running performance. Running and cycling are different activities with their own characteristics. One of the biggest differences between cycling and running is the impact force. Cycling doesn’t have the regular pounding of the legs, but incorporating cycling into your training can still improve your running performance and bring many benefits to your training.

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How long does it take to see training results?

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Often when we start training, we have a goal in mind. The goals can be anything from improving general fitness conditions, running a marathon, losing weight, or increasing muscle mass. People often wonder how quickly the training results will be visible. How quickly will I reach my goal?

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What is really needed for physical recovery?

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Exercising has become a million-dollar business, dominated by technology, supplements and equipment. What is really needed for physical recovery? Recovery from exercise plays an equally important role as the performance itself because neglecting recovery is directly related to progress.

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Running myths – True or false?

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Running and training are full of myths. Some of them still live tenaciously, even though they could have been proven wrong by science a long time ago. There are many running myths that can affect people’s training and beliefs about how they should train. Some of the myths can also affect how we see training in general. Here is just a small fraction of common beliefs.

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“I’m a slow runner” – What do statistics say?

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It is again the time of year when many have started or are about to start the race season. In particular, social media are filled with medal images, and many also compare their own times with those of others. It’s easy to think that “I’m so slow runner” compared to others, but what do statistics say?

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Body peace in sports

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Every month and a year, body peace in sports raises its head and the subject is repeatedly on the surface. Athletes talk about how their appearance, weight and body are publicly judged, coaches monitor weight and body composition, social media is full of critical comments. At the same time, there is talk of body peace and performance pressures.

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