The DOI matches its Crossref record.
Running economy of elite male and elite female runners
Abstract
Twenty female and 45 male middle and long-distance runners, in training for the U.S. Olympic Trials, served as subjects. Ninety percent of both men and women subjects reached the Trials; eight women and 12 men qualified for the Olympic Games and five won medals. Each subject completed a VO2max and a series of submax treadmill runs, for the purpose of comparing heart rate (HR), VO2, and blood lactate (HLa) among men and women and among runners of various event specialties. Results showed the men to be taller, heavier, to have a lower six-site skinfold sum and a higher VO2max, than the women (P less than 0.05); there was no difference in age. When compared in running economy, men used less oxygen (ml.min-1.kg-1) at common absolute velocities, but VO2 (ml.km-1.kg-1) was not different between men and women at equal relative intensities (%VO2max). When men and women of equal VO2max were compared, the men were significantly more economical, using any method of comparison. Also, when comparisons of men and women of equal economy were made, it was found that the men had an even greater advantage over the "matched" women subjects than the mean VO2max comparison using all subjects. In looking at the SD (800-/1500-m runners), MD (3-K/5-K/10-K runners) and LD (marathon runners), it was found that the SD runners used the least oxygen (ml.min-1.kg-1) at speeds of marathon race pace and faster, but not at slower speeds. Men and women responded similarly in this regard. Running economy data for speeds slower than typical race paces, tended to show the LD runners to be most economical, suggesting that the speeds over which runners are tested plays an important part in determining which subjects are the most economical. It was concluded that at absolute running velocities, men are more economical than women, but when expressed in ml.km-1.kg-1 there are no gender differences at similar relative intensities of running. Also, when men and women of equal VO2max or equal economy are matched, the men show a better aerobic profile. It is recommended that economy data be collected up to speeds equal to over 90% VO2max.
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“Indeed, both modelling [68] and measures [69] of exercise economy in athletes show its importance in determining performance and discriminating between successful athletes [70].”
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Items 301–345 of 345
The effects of skill-based volleyball training program on running economy in male volleyball players
Eryılmaz, S. K. (2020) · African Educational Research Journal · doi:10.30918/aerj.83.20.145
“It has been observed that distance runners had significant differences in oxygen consumption rates while running at the same velocity (Williams and Cavanagh, 1987; Daniels and Daniels, 1992).”
BackgroundAssociations between Strength and Distance Running Biomechanics
Moffit, T. J. (2018)
Alamäkijuoksun vaikutukset juoksun taloudellisuuteen
Erojärvi, V. (2007) · Jyväskylä University Digital Archive (University of Jyväskylä)
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Knechtle, B., & Nikolaidis, P. Τ. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-65064-6_6 · Cited by 1
Whiton, T. K., Sato, K., Bazyler, C. D., DeWeese, B. H., & Stone, M. H. (2020) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-80714/v1
Peer Review #3 of "Modelling the effect of curves on distance running performance (v0.1)"
(2019) · doi:10.7287/peerj.8222v0.1/reviews/3
“Generally, studies find that males are slightly more economical than females at matched 515 absolute running velocities (Daniels and Daniels 1992).”
BackgroundTomović, M., Toliopoulos, A., Κουτλιάνος, Ν., Dalkiranis, A., Bubanj, S., Deligiannis, A. P., & Kouidi, E. J. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph191912289 · Cited by 1
Haruhiko, G. O. T. O., TANIGUCHI, K., KUROSAWA, R., et al. (2023) · Taiikugaku kenkyu (Japan Journal of Physical Education Health and Sport Sciences) · doi:10.5432/jjpehss.22072
Aerobic and anaerobic responses to training
McNarry, M. A., & Armstrong, N. (2023) · doi:10.1093/med/9780192843968.003.0032
Cardoso, F., Costa, M. J., Colaço, P., Vilas‐Boas, J. P., Pinho, J. C., Pyne, D. B., & Fernandes, R. J. (2024) · The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research · doi:10.1519/jsc.0000000000004953
“While achieving a high V ̇ O 2 max is fundamental for running performance, equally important are the associated velocity (vV ̇ O 2 max) and the time that this intensity can be sustained until exhaustion (TLimv V ̇ O 2 max) (4,5,13).”
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Guo, M., & Montero, D. (2024) · Mayo Clinic Proceedings · doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2024.08.002
Dadelo, S., Nekriošius, R., & Dadelienė, R. (2025) · Life · doi:10.3390/life15030476
“However, several coaches and scholars [49,50] have questioned its importance.”
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Blödorn, W., & Döring, F. (2025) · BMC Research Notes · doi:10.1186/s13104-025-07256-6
“Physiological and theoretical models [2, 3] based on bioener-getics (e.g., aerobic capacity) partially explain and predict”
Special endurance coefficients enable the evaluation of running performance
Blödorn, W., & Döring, F. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-06009-6
Venzke, J., Schäfer, R., & Platen, P. (2025) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0329323 · Cited by 1
“This is in line with previous research, showing that male athletes generally have better running economy than female athletes at absolute running speeds, i.e., they consume less oxygen per unit of body weight at the same speed [46,47].”
Lyons, S. M., Paquette, M. R., TenBroek, T. M., & Steiner, E. (2025) · Footwear Science · doi:10.1080/19424280.2025.2579974 · Cited by 1
“These AFT shoes are designed to improve endurance running performance by reducing the energetic costs or oxygen consumption at a given speed (i.e. running economy [RE]) (Daniels & Daniels, 1992; Joyner, 1991; Morgan & Daniels, 1994).”
Steeplechase Hurdle Economy, Mechanics, and Performance
Ingebretsen, S. (2013) · ScholarsArchive (Brigham Young University)
Detopoulou, P., Dedes, V., Mourtziapi, S. I., Perrea, A., Mourtziapis, A., Kipreos, G., & Panoutsopoulos, G. I. (2026) · Sport Sciences for Health · doi:10.1007/s11332-025-01616-2
“The mean reduction is apparently due to the cardiorespiratory adjustments, the increase in the heart rate volume, increased physical conditioning, and the improvement of the running economy [34].”
Brown, G. A., Shaw, B. S., & Shaw, I. (2026) · The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research · doi:10.1519/jsc.0000000000005335
Aoyagi, A., ISHIKURA, K., Shirai, Y., & Nabekura, Y. (2026) · International Journal of Sport and Health Science · doi:10.5432/ijshs.202522
Seglina, I., Torniainen, K., Kvarforth, L., Hallström, S., & Arndt, T. (2026) · Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports · doi:10.1111/sms.70234 · Cited by 2
“Daniels and Daniels [30] found males to be more economical at absolute intensities, but not at relative intensities, whereas Joubert et al. [31] reported that females were more economical at 10 km·h − 1 , but not at 12 km·h − 1 .”
Brown, G. A., Shaw, B. S., & Shaw, I. (2026) · Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports · doi:10.1111/sms.70251
“Additional factors include modest advantages in cardiovascular and pulmonary structure, as well as pelvic morphology [32], with males exhibiting narrower ischial and acetabular widths that may promote more efficient running mechanics [33], which could contribute further.”
Biến đổi sinh học của phụ nữ trong tập luyện thể dục thể thao
Võ, K. (2026) · Journal of Scientific training and Sports coaching · doi:10.64024/upes13985
Performance factors of prolonged running : a particular focus on running economy and fatigue
Pastor, F. S. (2021) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/5bde97d0zd2b5z4653z8a3ezfe2346031100
Biomechanical and physiological differences between males and females in endurance running
Besson, T. (2021) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/df81ec29zd02az4c4bzb17czff321b38a4ac
Tartaruga, M. P. (2013) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/332f2238zad80z4db1za9dbz1eb2980c638f
vΔ50 Race Walking: High Energetic Cost, Rapid VO2max, and No Slow Component
Mille-Hamard, L., Garcin, M., Dufour, S. P., & Billat, V. L. (2026) · Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology · doi:10.3390/jfmk11020174
“Paradoxically, elite race walkers demonstrate maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2 max) values ( ≈ 70–80 mL · kg − 1 · min − 1 ) comparable to those observed in similarly ranked distance runners [5,6].”
Needles, B. J., Kim, S., & Grabowski, A. M. (2026) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1007/s00421-026-06257-y · Cited by 1
“Traditionally, running economy has been expressed in units of milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body mass per minute [ml O 2 *kg −1 *min −1 ] (Daniels and Daniels 1992).”
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Domny, T. A., Phillips, A. D., Tibbs, K., Gilmore, B., Phillips, J. P., O'Neal, E. K., & André, T. (2026) · Scientific Journal of Sport and Performance · doi:10.55860/mzvi6493
“However, for trained runners, RE assessed by VO 2 only has been suggested to be a strong predictor of performance among athletes with a similar VO 2max (Conley et al., 1980; Daniels et al., 1992; Arampatzis et al., 2006; Saunders et al., 2004; Barnes et al., 2015).”
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Beltrami, F. G., Støren, Ø., & Helgerud, J. (2026) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1007/s00421-026-06331-5
“Daniels and Daniels (1992) had already noted that athletes with different specializations showed different slopes in their V̇ O 2 x speed relationship, with middle distance athletes showing flatter slopes compared with long distance athletes.”
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Shahidi, S. H., Can, R., Paça, F. M., & Zengin, M. D. (2026) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0355988 · Cited by 1
“Absolute oxygen uptake in liters per minute (L·min1¹) was also reported for further comparisons [27].”
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Sangali, E. B. (2013) · Americanae (AECID Library)
The influence of training status on the physiological responses to exercise of young girls
McNarry, M. A. (2010) · UPT. Syiah Kuala University Library (Syiah Kuala University)
Pellegrino, J. K. (2011) · The Mathematics Enthusiast
Die Leistungsfähigkeit der Frau: biologische und leistungsphysiologische Aspeke
Hollmann, W., Tagarakis, C., & Platen, P. (2002) · Steinkopff eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-57534-1_2
Changes in tendon compliance and muscle energetics of in vivo human skeletal muscle
Fletcher, J. R. (2014) · Libraries and Cultural Resources (University of Calgary) · doi:10.5072/prism/25251
Metadata
- Authors
- DANIELS, J., & DANIELS, N.
- Affiliations
- SUNY Cortland (US)
- Venue
- Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
- Published
- 1992-04
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 483???489
- ISSN
- 0195-9131 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1968795196
- Cited by
- 345
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 6.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies
- Keywords
- running economy, sex differences, middle-distance runners, long-distance runners, marathon runners, VO2max, heart rate, blood lactate, treadmill running
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Physical Exertion, Female, Humans, Lactates, Male, Oxygen Consumption, Running, Sex Characteristics, Skinfold Thickness
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