Does shortening stride length (and running for a longer time) require the same effort as a longer stride (for a shorter time)?
I'm currently training for a 10k with my girlfriend: the goal is to complete the race without stopping rather than any specific time. However, I'm a foot taller than she is so when we do runs, I shorten my stride quite a bit so we maintain the same tempo.
It seems to me that running 5km @ 6 minutes/km by myself vs. 7 minutes/km with her still feels like the same amount of effort by the end. Shorter strides + longer time vs. Longer strides + shorter time.
Am I imagining things? Should one of these scenarios be more work/effort, or do they equal out in the end?
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There is a speed/stride-length/form combination (or maybe a few) that is optimally efficient for a given person, and any variation from that will be less efficient. For example, competitive distance runners have settled in on about 180 strides per minute.
If your efficiency was the same at all speeds, then the amount of work would be dependent only on the distance you run. However, your efficiency does change as you change speeds (and form, and stride length), so these two scenarios that you give will not necessarily result in the same amount of energy used.
As well, your running economy (this is a really good read) changes as you change speed. Runners tend to be most economic at the speeds that they most often run at.
Your two scenarios could just also happen to be equally efficient and economic, resulting in the same amount of effort for you, but it is in no way guaranteed or probable.
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