Active Life: What is Running Economy?

At Active Life, they believe there are certain prerequisites a runner must possess in order to run safely and efficiently.

The body demands of a running athlete include:

• Enough mobility to run un-opposed
• Enough stability to maintain form when fatigued - imagine firing a cannon from a canoe
• Enough strength for baseline function to tap into
• Enough power to recruit for running performance

These factors all combine to form what we call RUNNING ECONOMY. We know that things such as running with poor form increases stress on the body and that running with a poorly prepared body means you’ll never be able to improve your form. Poor preparation leads to poor form which leads to increased stress which leads to a potential for injury.