Runners naturally move at a pace to save energy
How do runners choose the speed at which to run? Stanford researchers answered this question using wearable data from thousands of recreational runners. The researchers showed that a runner’s preferred speed is actually the most energetically efficient or burns the least calories per unit distance traveled.
This finding changes our decades-old theory that humans burn the same amount of energy no matter how fast they run. Discoveries like this help us to understand human physiology and its evolution, as well as improve training and human performance.
Read the full scientific article in Current Biology
Read press release from Stanford
See coverage in Science News, The Wall Street Journal, Popular Science, and NewScientist
Latest News

May 5, 2022
Runners naturally move at a pace to save energy

April 28, 2022
Announcing the 2022 Wu Tsai Performance Scholars

April 17, 2022
Join study of female high school track athletes to improve health and body image
Get Engaged
We invite faculty, students, staff, alumni, friends, and external organizations to participate in the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance at Stanford.