The metabolic cost of emulated aerodynamic drag forces in marathon running
Edson Soares da Silva, Rodger Kram, Wouter Hoogkamer
Abstract
We measured the metabolic and biomechanical effects of small horizontal impeding forces (representing realistic aerodynamic drag forces) on high-caliber runners across a range of velocities. Combining our metabolic results with existing aerodynamic models indicates that at 2-h marathon pace, optimal drafting likely allows a marathoner to run between 3 min 42 s and 5 min 29 s faster. Our rule-of-thumb (∼6% increase in gross metabolic power per 1% body weight of horizontal impeding force) will allow others to estimate the performance enhancement of different drafting formations.
Topics & Concepts
DragAerodynamic forceAerodynamic dragGround reaction forceAerodynamicsMechanicsLift-to-drag ratioMathematicsPhysicsEnvironmental scienceClassical mechanicsKinematicsSports Performance and TrainingSports Dynamics and BiomechanicsSports injuries and prevention