Can the Transitions To and From Running and the Metabolic Cost of Running Be Determined From the Kinetic Energy of Running?

An experiment was conducted in which volume of used oxygen per stride time and the total segmental changes in kinetic energy generated per stride time, E(k)>s(-1), of 11 participants were determined on Day 1 for 7 treadmill running speeds. Gait transition speeds were determined on Day 2. Running metabolism and transition speed were predicted from the Day 1 mechanics of running expressed in Speed x E(k)>s(-1) coordinates. Predictions followed from the relation between 2 generalized quality ratios Q(metab), and Q(mech), with numerator E(k)>s(-1). In Q(metab), the denominator was the volume of used oxygen per stride time; in Q(mech), the denominator was the absolute regression constant from the linear dependency of E(k)>s(-1) on speed.