The relationship between VO2 max, power management, and increased running speed: Towards gait pattern recognition through clustering analysis

Abstract

Triathlon has become increasingly popular in recent years. In this discipline, maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) is considered the gold standard for determining competition cardio-vascular capacity. However, the emergence of wearable sensors (as Stryd) has drastically changed training and races, allowing for the more precise evaluation of athletes and study of many more potential determining variables. Thus, in order to discover factors associated with improved running efficiency, we studied which variables are correlated with increased speed. We then developed a methodology to identify associated running patterns that could allow each individual athlete to improve their performance. To achieve this, we developed a correlation matrix, implemented regression models, and created a heat map using hierarchical cluster analysis. This highlighted relationships between running patterns in groups of young triathlon athletes and several different variables. Among the most important conclusions, we found that high VO2 max did not seem to be significantly correlated with faster speed. However, faster individuals did have higher power per kg, horizontal power, stride length, and running effectiveness, and lower ground contact time and form power ratio. VO2 max appeared to strongly correlate with power per kg and this seemed to indicate that to run faster, athletes must also correctly manage their power.