Kinetic and Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Running During Regular Training Sessions for Collegiate Male Distance Runners Using Shoe-Based Wearable Sensors

Assessment of running mechanics has traditionally been conducted in laboratory settings; the advancement of wearable technology permits data collection during outdoor training sessions. Exploring changes in running mechanics across training-session types may assist runners, coaches, and sports medicine clinicians in improving performance and managing the injury risk. To examine changes in running mechanics on the basis of routine training-session types. Descriptive observational study. Field based, university. Running mechanics data (ie, impact g, stride length, braking g, total shock g, cadence, and ground contact time) for National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I distance runners (n = 20 men) were collected using RunScribe sensors mounted to the laces during training sessions (long run [LR], interval run [IR], or recovery run [RR]) during a 1-week period. Repeated-measures analysis of covariance with Greenhouse-Geisser correction and training-session pace as a covariate indicated no statistically significant differences in spatiotemporal or kinetic measures across the 3 training-session types. Cadence and stride length were inversely related in all training sessions (LR: r = -0.673, P = .004; IR: r = -0.893, P < .001; RR: r = -0.549, P = .023). Strong positive correlations were seen between impact g and total shock in all training sessions (LR: r = 0.894, P < .001; IR: r = 0.782, P = < .001; RR: r = 0.922, P < .001). Ground contact time increased with stride length during LR training sessions (r = 0.551, P = .027) and decreased with braking g in IR training sessions (r = -0.574, P = .016) and cadence in RR training sessions (r = -0.487, P = .048). Running mechanics in collegiate distance runners were not statistically different among training-session types when training-session pace was controlled. The use of wearable technology provides a tool for obtaining necessary data during overland training to inform training and program design.