REF-885 · Hunter et al., 2007 · European Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol. · Paper · PubMed

Preferred and optimal stride frequency, stiffness and economy: changes with fatigue during a 1-h high-intensity run

Blimited evidenceMeasured on trained athletesWritten before October 2026, being re-checked

When fresh, experienced runners tend to choose a stride frequency that minimises oxygen uptake. The authors asked whether they still do so when fatigued, and whether leg and vertical stiffness explain any change.

Sixteen experienced runners ran for one hour at a constant, near-maximal speed on a treadmill; preferred and optimal stride frequencies were measured near the start and near the end using frequencies ±4 and ±8% around the preferred one, and stiffness was derived from vertical force data. Oxygen uptake drifted up over the hour.

Preferred and optimal stride frequencies did not differ at either time point, and both fell slightly by the end. Stiffness and frequency changes were individual, and no clear link to economy was found.

Participants

n=16 experienced runners (abstract: "Sixteen experienced runners"); MEDLINE indexing lists female and male adults.

Protocol

Near-maximal effort 1-h treadmill run at constant speed.
Near the beginning and the end: preferred stride frequency (PSF), and optimal stride frequency (OSF) from oxygen uptake at frequencies ±4 and ±8% around PSF.
Leg and vertical stiffness from vertical force data recorded throughout.

Key Results

Oxygen uptake rose during the run from 45.9 to 47.4 ml kg(-1) min(-1) (P = 0.004).
No difference between preferred and optimal stride frequency at the beginning or the end (P = 0.978).
Both PSF and OSF fell from 1.45 to 1.43 Hz (P = 0.026).
All runners self-optimised stride frequency at the beginning and end despite the change in optimal frequency.
Stiffness and stride-frequency changes were subject-specific, some runners showing little or no change; no clear relationship of frequency or stiffness change to economy.

Practical Application

In sixteen experienced runners during a near-maximal 1-h treadmill run, the stride frequency they chose matched the most economical one both early and late in the run (P = 0.978), and when fatigue lowered the optimal frequency slightly (1.45 to 1.43 Hz), their chosen frequency followed it. To "should I force my cadence up when I get tired late in a run?": for economy, no — experienced runners already settle on their cheapest stride frequency, fresh and fatigued, and the small drop late in a hard run tracks the new optimum.
The reason to change step rate is load on the joints, not economy: raising step rate redistributes impact load (REF-620, REF-883); on this evidence it is not expected to make an experienced runner more economical.
Inference, not tested here: novice runners, who were not studied, may not self-optimise as well.
Not from this paper; the base's own practice: SYNTH-55 answers whether to raise running cadence and rests the joint-load case on REF-620; a cadence change needs a named reason.

Limitations

Sixteen experienced runners on a treadmill at one constant speed.
The changes in stride frequency were small (1.45 to 1.43 Hz) and individual.
Economy only; no injury or performance outcome.
Written from the abstract and record metadata only (full text not read).
How this entry was checked and changed
Why this level

within-subject experiment, n=16