Power-Based Running Durability in Trained Runners: Preliminary Evidence of Speed-Adjusted Mechanical Drift as a Marker of Fatigue.
5 affiliations
- 1Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad San Jorge, Zaragoza, Spain.
- 2Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
- 3Sport and Health University Research Center (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
- 4Department of Physical Education, Sports and Recreation, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
- 5Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Abstract
This study examined wearable-derived running power and biomechanical variables as indicators of durability during prolonged dual-intensity exercise in trained trail runners. Twelve trained trail runners completed a 216-min treadmill protocol of three repeated 72-min blocks (60 min steady-state running at 85% of lactate threshold speed plus a 12-min uphill time trial [+12% incline]), plus an unfatigued control trial. A foot-mounted running power metre (Stryd Next Gen, Stryd Inc., CO, USA; firmware version 2.1.32.1.1) continuously recorded power output, duty factor, ground contact time, form power, cadence, vertical oscillation and leg stiffness. Repeated-measures ANCOVA with running speed as a covariate compared biomechanical across time trials at a common, model-adjusted running speed. During the uphill time trials, duty factor, ground contact time, leg stiffness, vertical oscillation and form power changed significantly after controlling for speed (all p < 0.05; η²p = 0.23-0.41), reflecting neuromechanical fatigue and a shift towards a lower-stiffness, higher-contact-duration gait. In contrast, absolute power, normalised power and %CP declined in proportion to running speed and did not reach significance after covariate adjustment. During steady-state running, biomechanical and physiological variables remained stable except duty factor, which increased modestly but significantly from 60 to 180 min (71.3 ± 1.6% to 72.7 ± 1.7%; p = 0.014, η²p = 0.32), the sole wearable-detected indicator of mechanical drift at submaximal intensity. Running cost remained preserved throughout both exercise conditions. These findings suggest that the duty factor is the most sensitive wearable-derived marker of fatigue-related mechanical reorganisation during prolonged trail running, and that a wearable device can capture both the neuromechanical and performance dimensions of durability.
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BibTeX
@article{cartonllorente2026powerbased,
title = {{Power-Based Running Durability in Trained Runners: Preliminary Evidence of Speed-Adjusted Mechanical Drift as a Marker of Fatigue.}},
author = {Antonio Cartón-Llorente and Felipe García-Pinillos and Diego Jaén-Carrillo},
journal = {European journal of sport science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/ejsc.70275},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897874},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Power-Based Running Durability in Trained Runners: Preliminary Evidence of Speed-Adjusted Mechanical Drift as a Marker of Fatigue.
AU - Antonio Cartón-Llorente
AU - Felipe García-Pinillos
AU - Diego Jaén-Carrillo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - European journal of sport science
DO - 10.1002/ejsc.70275
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897874
AB - This study examined wearable-derived running power and biomechanical variables as indicators of durability during prolonged dual-intensity exercise in trained trail runners. Twelve trained trail runners completed a 216-min treadmill protocol of three repeated 72-min blocks (60 min steady-state running at 85% of lactate threshold speed plus a 12-min uphill time trial [+12% incline]), plus an unfatigued control trial. A foot-mounted running power metre (Stryd Next Gen, Stryd Inc., CO, USA; firmware version 2.1.32.1.1) continuously recorded power output, duty factor, ground contact time, form power, cadence, vertical oscillation and leg stiffness. Repeated-measures ANCOVA with running speed as a covariate compared biomechanical across time trials at a common, model-adjusted running speed. During the uphill time trials, duty factor, ground contact time, leg stiffness, vertical oscillation and form power changed significantly after controlling for speed (all p < 0.05; η²p = 0.23-0.41), reflecting neuromechanical fatigue and a shift towards a lower-stiffness, higher-contact-duration gait. In contrast, absolute power, normalised power and %CP declined in proportion to running speed and did not reach significance after covariate adjustment. During steady-state running, biomechanical and physiological variables remained stable except duty factor, which increased modestly but significantly from 60 to 180 min (71.3 ± 1.6% to 72.7 ± 1.7%; p = 0.014, η²p = 0.32), the sole wearable-detected indicator of mechanical drift at submaximal intensity. Running cost remained preserved throughout both exercise conditions. These findings suggest that the duty factor is the most sensitive wearable-derived marker of fatigue-related mechanical reorganisation during prolonged trail running, and that a wearable device can capture both the neuromechanical and performance dimensions of durability.
SN - 1746-1391
SN - 1536-7290
ER -