A novel running wearable called the Stryd Summit footpod fastens to a runner’s shoe and estimates running power. The footpod separates power output into two components, Stryd power and form power. The purpose of this study was to measure the correlations between running economy and power and form power at lactate threshold pace. Seventeen well-trained distance runners, 9 male and 8 female, completed a running protocol. Participants ran two four-minute trials: one with a self-selected cadence, and one with a target cadence lowered by 10%. The mean running economy expressed in terms of oxygen cost at self-selected cadence was 201.6 ± 12.8 mL·kg⁻¹·km⁻¹, and at lowered cadence was 204.5 ± 11.5 mL·kg⁻¹·km⁻¹. Ventilation rate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were not significantly different between cadence conditions with one-tailed paired t-test analysis (ventilation, p = 0.77, RPE, p = 0.07). Respiratory exchange ratio and caloric unit cost were significantly greater with lower cadence condition (respiratory exchange ratio, p = 0.03, caloric unit cost, p = 0.03). Mean power at self-selected cadence was 4.4 ± 0.5 W·kg⁻¹, and at lowered cadence was 4.4 ± 0.5 W·kg⁻¹. Mean form power at self-selected cadence was 1.1 ± 0.1 W·kg⁻¹, and at lowered cadence was 1.1 ± 0.1 W·kg⁻¹. There were positive, linear correlations between running economy and power (self-selected cadence and lower cadence, r = 0.6; the 90% confidence interval was 0.2 to 0.8); running economy and form power (self-selected cadence and lower cadence r = 0.5; the 90% confidence interval was 0.1 to 0.8). The findings suggest running economy is positively correlated with Stryd’s power and form power measures yet the footpod may not be sufficiently accurate to estimate differences in the running economy of competitive runners.

The purpose of the study was to examine the changes in peak oxygen consumption ( $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O_2peak) and running economy (RE) following four-weeks of high intensity training and concurrent strength and conditioning during the off-season in collegiate female field hockey players. Fourteen female student-athletes (age 19.29 ± 0.91 years) were divided into two training groups, matched from baseline $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O_2peak: High Intensity Training (HIT_run; n = 8) and High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT; n = 6). Participants completed 12 training sessions. HIT_run consisted of 30 min of high-intensity running, while HIIT consisted of a series of whole-body high intensity Tabata-style intervals (75–85% of age predicted maximum heart rate) for a total of four minutes. In addition to the interval training, the off-season training included six resistance training sessions, three team practices, and concluded with a team scrimmage. $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O_2peak was measured pre- and post-training to determine the effectiveness of the training program. A two-way mixed (group × time) ANOVA showed a main effect of time with a statistically significant difference in $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O_2peak from pre- to post-testing, F(1, 12) = 12.657, p = 0.004, partial η² = 0.041. Average (±SD) $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O_2peak increased from 44.64 ± 3.74 to 47.35 ± 3.16 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ for HIIT group and increased from 45.39 ± 2.80 to 48.22 ± 2.42 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ for HIT_run group. Given the similar improvement in aerobic power, coaches and training staff may find the time saving element of HIIT-type conditioning programs attractive.