Energetical equivalence between air resistance and gradients in running

Abstract

For a given running speed and for any wind speed, we calculate the slope for which the effort to overcome in the absence of wind is energetically equivalent to running with the original wind speed on a flat track. The influence of headwind and tailwind is thus made numerically comparable to the influence of a positive or negative slope. The same applies to the lack of air resistance on a treadmill and its compensation by adjusting the incline. Moreover, for turning point routes physiological corrections are considered and the impact of speed adjustments is analyzed.