Undergraduate Honors Thesis

 

TO RUN OR WALK UPHILL: A MATTER OF INCLINATION Public Deposited

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https://scholar.colorado.edu/concern/undergraduate_honors_theses/hq37vp540
Abstract
  • People prefer to walk at slow speeds and to run at fast speeds. In between, there is a speed at which people choose to transition between gaits, the Preferred Transition Speed (PTS). At slow speeds, it is metabolically cheaper to walk and at faster speeds, it is cheaper to run. Thus, there is an intermediate speed, the Energetically Optimal Transition Speed (EOTS). My goals were to determine: 1) how PTS and EOTS compare at inclines relevant to trail and mountain runners and 2) if the heart rate optimal transition speed (HROTS) can predict either the EOTS or PTS. Ten healthy, high-caliber, male trail and mountain runners participated. On day 1, data for 0° and 15° were collected and on day 2, 5° and 10°. PTS was determined by averaging the run-to-walk transition speed (RWTS) and walk-to-run transition speed (WRTS) using an incremental protocol. EOTS was determined from metabolic cost data for walking and running at three or four speeds per incline near the expected EOTS. The intersection of the walking and running linear regression equations defined EOTS. HROTS was determined using the same linear regression procedure. PTS, EOTS, and HROTS all were slower on steeper inclines. PTS was slower than EOTS at 0°, 5°, and 10°, but the two converged at 15°. PTS and EOTS were moderately correlated at best. Although EOTS correlated with HROTS, heart rate is not an accurate tool for predicting EOTS.

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  • 2020-03-17
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  • 2020-04-01
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