If you are confused as to the difference between economy and efficiency then you are not alone. In this simple guide, Gareth explains the difference, how they are closely linked, and how to train them both.
Running economy is basically how efficiently your body uses energy while you run at a given pace. More specifically, it is the amount of oxygen you consume (VO₂) or energy you burn to maintain a certain running speed.
A runner with better running economy uses less oxygen and less energy at a given pace compared to someone with worse economy. Typically we think of economy as mechanical efficiency — movement-centred.
VO2 max is the maximum oxygen your body can use under load — the best-studied marker of cardiovascular fitness. How we measure it in Santa Monica.
Zone 2 is genuinely easy aerobic work, bounded by your aerobic threshold — not a formula from your age. How a lactate test sets it.
A blood lactate test finds the intensities where your training zones actually begin and end. How the protocol works in Santa Monica.
One hour in the lab in Santa Monica, and you’ll know exactly how your body produces energy — and precisely how hard to go.
