What else do you need (apart from a power meter and watch)?

Picture of a runner looking at their mobile and running watch

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 (𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡)?

To get the most from a power meter, you’ll need one or more applications (‘apps’ for short) to:
🔹 plan your training
🔹 display and record power while you’re running
🔹 review completed workouts and monitor your power metrics

For the best result (and to minimise manual effort), your apps should work seamlessly with your watch and power meter.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐬 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐩𝐨𝐝?

The Stryd Ecosystem should meet most of your needs, especially if you’re using a fully compatible watch.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐬 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫?

There isn’t an ecosystem for wrist-based power – instead, you’ll need to connect a few different apps.

Your options will vary based on the watch you’re using and on your budget. The webpage below contains some information, while the ‘Getting Started’ book contains a detailed chapter about choosing apps.

You can also ask questions or ask for advice in the from1runner2another Facebook group.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐝? 𝐎𝐫 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫?

Because running power is still relatively new, there are few ‘easy to use’ solutions.

This is likely to change over the next few years, but until then, your choices are likely to remain a trade-off between cost vs. ease of use:
✅ Stryd is more expensive, but easier to setup and use
✅ Wrist-based power is less expensive, but more complex to setup and use

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

For more information on choosing apps, see getting started choosing apps

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
⏩ What is a power meter?
⏩ Do running power meters provide meaningful numbers?
⏩ Can you use a Stryd footpod to Run with Power?
⏩ Can you use a running watch to Run with Power?
⏩ What else do you need (apart from a power meter and watch)?

Can you use a running watch to Run with Power?

Picture of a runner looking at their mobile and running watch

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐮𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫?

Yes.

All the major running watch manufacturers (Garmin, COROS, Wahoo, Suunto, Polar, and even Apple) include wrist-based power in their new models.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫?

You may already have a watch that can provide wrist-based power, which means you don’t need to buy a separate power meter.

You may be a multi-sport athlete. The Stryd Ecosystem only supports running, so the investment in Stryd is less attractive.

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬?

There are no independent studies testing whether wrist-based power provides repeatable, valid power numbers. However, I ran my own (N=1) study, comparing wrist-based power from Garmin, Coros and Apple to numbers from a Stryd footpod. I found they produce repeatable numbers that, for recreational runners, are correlated to the Stryd footpod.

There isn’t an ecosystem for wrist-based power – instead, you’ll need to connect a few different apps.

Because power is still relatively new, and because you’ll need to use a few different apps, setup is more complex than with a Stryd.

Finally, few running watches produce power numbers when running on a treadmill.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭?

No one has independently validated wrist-based power yet, and setup is more complex than using a Stryd.

But it may be a budget-friendly way to try Running with Power.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

For more information on my N=1 study into wrist-based power, see Running with Power – 2G+AW+COROS

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
⏩ What is a power meter?
⏩ Do running power meters provide meaningful numbers?
⏩ Can you use a Stryd footpod to Run with Power?
⏩ Can you use a running watch to Run with Power?
⏩ What else do you need (apart from a power meter and watch)?

Can you use a Stryd footpod to Run with Power?

Picture of a runner looking at their mobile and running watch

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐩𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐮𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫?

Yes.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐩𝐨𝐝?

It’s a power meter that works with all major sports watch brands, with Apple Watches, with mobile phones, and with some smartwatches.

It provides power-based metrics, accurate speed and distance metrics (even in poor-GPS locations) and some additional metrics that measure aspects of your running form.

It works outdoors or on a treadmill.

At least 10 independent studies have tested the Stryd footpod, finding that it produces repeatable numbers that are highly correlated with O2 consumption (a gold standard for measuring exercise energy consumption).

The footpod comes with the Stryd Ecosystem, an end-to-end solution (from planning through reviewing) that’s built around running power. The ecosystem provides all the functionality you need to run using a Stryd footpod and most of the important power metrics. It also provides access to coaches and training plans.

Support is excellent, and there’s a very active Facebook group where you can ask questions and learn from others.

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬?

It’s an additional expense on top of the cost of a watch. And while most of the Stryd Ecosystem is free to use, some items require a paid subscription.

Finally, because power is still relatively new, setup can be a little complex – even with the detailed instructions on the Stryd website.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭?

On balance, the Stryd footpod is a beginner-friendly way to start Running with Power.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

For more information on independent testing of the Stryd footpod, see Steve Palladino’s article Stryd Power and VO2

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
⏩ What is a power meter?
⏩ Do running power meters provide meaningful numbers?
⏩ Can you use a Stryd footpod to Run with Power?
⏩ Can you use a running watch to Run with Power?
⏩ What else do you need (apart from a power meter and watch)?

Do running power meters produce meaningful numbers?

Picture of a runner looking at their mobile and running watch

𝐃𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬?

Running power meters provide numbers showing how hard you’re working when you run – your effort.

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭?

No.

Running power meters provide numbers that 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡 your effort.

𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬?

No.

Running power meters provide usable information … as long as the power numbers are repeatable and valid:
🔹 Repeatable? The same effort under the same conditions gives the same result.
🔹 Valid? The numbers are highly correlated to an existing ‘gold standard’.

At least 10 independent studies have tested the Stryd footpod, finding that the footpod produces repeatable numbers that are highly correlated with oxygen consumption (a gold standard for measuring exercise energy consumption).

Wrist-based power has not been independently validated. However, I ran my own (N=1) study during 2024 and 2025, comparing wrist-based power from Garmin, Coros and Apple to power numbers from a Stryd footpod. I found they produce repeatable numbers that, for recreational runners, are correlated to the Stryd footpod (which in turn is highly correlated to oxygen consumption).

𝐒𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬?

Far from it.

You can use running power numbers to measure your effort when you run.

And once you can measure your effort, that’s when the magic begins.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

For more information on independent testing of the Stryd footpod, see Steve Palladino’s article Stryd Power and VO2
For more information on my N=1 study into wrist-based power, see Running with Power – 2G+AW+COROS

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
⏩ What is a power meter?
⏩ Do running power meters provide meaningful numbers?
⏩ Can you use a Stryd footpod to Run with Power?
⏩ Can you use a running watch to Run with Power?
⏩ What else do you need (apart from a power meter and watch)?

What is a Power Meter?

Picture of a runner looking at their mobile and running watch

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫?

A Power Meter provides numbers representing how hard you’re working – your effort or running intensity.

Running power meters use readings from multiple sensors to calculate a power number.

Most recent running watches have a power meter built in.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫?

Running intensity is important when training, so that you can target the adaptations that will give you the best chance of success at your upcoming event.

There are other measures of intensity runners can use, but running power overcomes some of the disadvantages of those other measures:

🔹 It’s objective, rather than subjective, providing a number that represents your effort – unlike perceived effort.

🔹 It matches changes in your effort, even when running hilly routes – unlike pace.

🔹 Changes in effort produce an immediate change in power and there’s no upward drifting towards the end of longer runs – unlike heart rate.

𝐃𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭?

No.

Running power meters provide numbers that 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡 your effort.

𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬?

No, as long as the numbers are repeatable and valid (more on that in the next post), you can use them to measure your effort.

And once you can measure your effort, that’s when the magic begins.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
⏩ What is a power meter?
⏩ Do running power meters provide meaningful numbers?
⏩ Can you use a Stryd footpod to Run with Power?
⏩ Can you use a running watch to Run with Power?
⏩ What else do you need (apart from a power meter and watch)?

Running Effectiveness and race planning

An athlete using drills to improve their form

𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

There are three primary uses for Running Effectiveness:
✅ To improve your form
✅ To improve your fatigue resistance
✅ To identify targets for your upcoming race

Running Effectiveness can help identify the optimum power target for your upcoming event.

𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬

Depending on your choice of power meter and supporting apps, there are two different race calculators you can use to identify your optimum power target:
🎯 If you use a Stryd footpod and the Stryd ecosystem, you can use the web-based Stryd Race Calculator
🎯If you use wrist-based power, you can use the ‘Generate Race Power Scenarios’ feature in SuperPower Calculator (for Google Sheets).

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤?

Whichever calculator you use, they work similarly, using (at a minimum):
🔹 Your race-day running fitness – your Threshold Power on race-day
🔹 Your fatigue resistance – one of two different metrics, depending on whether you’re running a shorter, higher-intensity race or a longer, lower-intensity race
🔹 Your running effectiveness – your estimated finish time depends on how effectively you convert power into speed

These metrics are calculated from your completed workouts.

Which means that your training plan should include specific workout segments supporting the race-day calculations.

And it means that Running with Power personalises your race-day target, based on your capabilities, instead of calculating your target using averages from thousands of other runners (who are not you).

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

For more information on how to use Running Effectiveness, see Understanding ‘Running Effectiveness’ and its uses (Palladino)
More about the Race Calculators can be found at:
🔹 Stryd: Race Calculator in PowerCenter
🔹 SuperPower Calculator for Sheets (click to download a copy)

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
⏩ What is Running Effectiveness?
⏩ Is Running Effectiveness easy to use?
⏩ Running Effectiveness and form improvements
⏩ Running Effectiveness and fatigue resistance
⏩ Running Effectiveness and race planning

Running Effectiveness and fatigue resistance

An athlete using drills to improve their form

𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

You may be familiar with the term stamina, which is similar to, but not the same as fatigue resistance:
✅ Stamina – your ability to sustain effort for a longer duration
✅ Fatigue Resistance – your body’s ability to resist the effects of fatigue

This post focuses on fatigue resistance, starting with a simple question.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐞?

When you fatigue (while running):
🔹 you’ll probably slow down
🔹 your gait or form may change
🔹 you may experience mental sluggishness
🔹 you may have an increased risk of injury

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞?

According to Steve Palladino, you could focus on metrics that measure gait or form, looking for changes in those metrics over the course of a run.

There are a few metrics he’s investigated. One of them is available with any kind of power meter – Running Effectiveness.

In a FaceBook post, Steve outlines a couple of ways to measure fatigue resistance using higher-intensity sections in long runs.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞?

It’s one thing to be able to measure fatigue resistance, but how can you improve it?

Through a well-structured training plan.

And to check that your fatigue resistance is improving, you could use reference runs.

RE provides an objective way to assess improvements in fatigue resistance.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

For more information on how to use Running Effectiveness, see Understanding ‘Running Effectiveness’ and its uses (Palladino)

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
⏩ What is Running Effectiveness?
⏩ Is Running Effectiveness easy to use?
⏩ Running Effectiveness and form improvements
⏩ Running Effectiveness and fatigue resistance
⏩ Running Effectiveness and race planning

Running Effectiveness and form improvements

An athlete using drills to improve their form

𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

Your running form is not the same as your running gait:
✅ gait is the ‘what’ – the movement sequence like heel-striking or lifting your foot
✅ form is the ‘how’ – whether your movements are efficient, stable, and injury-free

By working on your form (how you run), you can improve your running effectiveness.

But it’s not a straightforward thing, and it’s easy to make things worse rather than better.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦?

Before starting any form work, consult a sports physiotherapist. They should be able to assess your current form and help you identify whether there are things you should prioritise to reduce injury risk.

A second option is to work with a specialist running coach, someone who has the training and tools to assess your running form and identify things you could do to improve your form.

Both the physio and the running coach will probably suggest activities to add to your training plan – strength and conditioning, running drills, plyometrics, and other supplemental activities.

𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐑𝐄 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

Before starting any supplemental activities, complete a reference run or two.

This will provide baseline RE measurements.

Then, while working on your form, complete additional reference runs to track whether the activities are improving your form (and you should continue them), or whether you should try something different.

RE provides an objective way to assess whether form changes are improvements.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

For more information on how to use Running Effectiveness, see Understanding ‘Running Effectiveness’ and its uses (Palladino)

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
⏩ What is Running Effectiveness?
⏩ Is Running Effectiveness easy to use?
⏩ Running Effectiveness and form improvements
⏩ Running Effectiveness and fatigue resistance
⏩ Running Effectiveness and race planning

Is Running Effectiveness easy to use?

An athlete using drills to improve their form

𝐈𝐬 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞?

Running Effectiveness uses speed and power (effort) – both are measurable numbers. RE is easy to calculate.

But Running Effectiveness measures how effectively you convert power into speed, and there are many things that can affect that conversion.

𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲

Differences in your running form at different intensities (jogging vs. running vs. sprinting) will affect how effectively you convert power into forward motion, impacting RE.

𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 & 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝

When you run uphill, your power will be higher for the same speed – and your RE will be lower. The reverse is true when running downhill.

The same is true for running into a headwind (lower RE), or with a tailwind.

𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐬

Running shoes are made from differing materials with differing stack heights. This can affect how effectively you convert power to speed.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 & 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

There is no agreed standard for calculating running power – different power meters will produce differing numbers. This means RE (for identical runs) will differ based on the power meter you used.

RE uses power divided by weight. If you change the weight configured for your power meter, RE calculations made before that change will not be comparable with RE calculations made after that change, unless you calculate RE using the weight configured at the time of each run.

𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐬

RE isn’t so easy to use!

But one way to monitor changes in RE is to use reference runs, a strategy that Fred Richardson (a fellow coach) shared with me.

These are runs you include every 3-4 weeks in your training plan, where you run the same route at the same target intensities in the same running shoes. Reference runs minimise the variations between runs, so that you can compare RE between runs and spot improvements.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

For more information on how to use Running Effectiveness, see Understanding ‘Running Effectiveness’ and its uses (Palladino)

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
⏩ What is Running Effectiveness?
⏩ Is Running Effectiveness easy to use?
⏩ Running Effectiveness and form improvements
⏩ Running Effectiveness and fatigue resistance
⏩ Running Effectiveness and race planning

What is Running Effectiveness?

An athlete using drills to improve their form

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬?

Imagine you want to run a faster marathon or a faster 5k.

You have a couple of choices.

𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

If you’re fitter, you should be able to maintain a higher effort over the event distance.

A higher effort should mean a faster speed, resulting in a quicker finish time.

You can improve your fitness by training, and you can measure fitness improvements by tracking your threshold power.

𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

Rather than improving your fitness, you could work on how you run.

If you’re more effective at converting your effort (power) into forward motion (speed), you can run faster for the same effort, resulting in a quicker finish time.

You can work on how you run (your running form) using drills, plyometrics, strength and conditioning, and other supplemental work.

But how can you measure whether that work has improved your running form?

𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

Running Effectiveness (RE) was proposed by Andrew Coggan, PhD, and measures how effectively you convert power into speed.

It’s a field-based measure similar to, but different from Running Economy (oxygen consumption at various speeds) or Running Efficiency (external mechanical power vs. metabolic power production), which both require lab-based testing.

RE = speed / power, where speed is in metres per second and power is in Watts per kilogram.

For an easy way to calculate RE from your power meter data, you can use SuperPower Calculator, as demonstrated by Steve Palladino in this video.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

For more information on:
🔹 The definition of Running Effectiveness, see WKO4: New Metrics for Running With Power (Coggan)
🔹 How to use Running Effectiveness, see Understanding ‘Running Effectiveness’ and its uses (Palladino)

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
⏩ What is Running Effectiveness?
⏩ Is Running Effectiveness easy to use?
⏩ Running Effectiveness and form improvements
⏩ Running Effectiveness and fatigue resistance
⏩ Running Effectiveness and race planning