The NY Times has an interesting article on running efficiency. They point out how a high VO2 max does not always guarantee success if you are an inefficient runner.
But economy is baffling. It seems to be physiological, but it is not clear what exactly is involved. Is it an ability of muscles to use energy, an ability to use a variety of muscles in concert, an ability of nerves to activate certain muscles for a task while allowing other muscles to relax, an ability of nerves to fire in near-perfect patterns? Or is it all of these things in combination?
I wonder how economy applies to trail running there are so many variables sprinter hills, long climbs, down hill, long flats, technical, non-technical it seems almost impossible to be truly “efficient” at trail running. From what I see in races those who are the most efficient at going up seem to win the races.
