Does Watts while running mean anything or relate to bike watts?

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2011-05-19 10:02 PM

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Elite
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Subject: Does Watts while running mean anything or relate to bike watts?

I was on a new treadmill the other day and saw a watts option.  I hit it out of curiosity. 

Then I started wondering, can you or should you train by watts while running?  Does it have any meaning on the run?

How would watts running compare to what one could or should show on the bike?  Curious because I don't have any power measurements on my bike yet.

 

Anyone have some insights?



Edited by peto_primo 2011-05-19 10:05 PM

2011-05-19 10:04 PM
in reply to: #3509187

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Does Watts while running mean anything or relate to bike watts?
how would you measure watts while running?
2011-05-19 10:06 PM
in reply to: #3509190

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Does Watts while running mean anything or relate to bike watts?

trix - 2011-05-19 9:04 PM how would you measure watts while running?

By being soft - avoiding the weather and running on the treadmill instead of going outside Frown

2011-05-19 10:06 PM
in reply to: #3509190

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Veteran
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Subject: RE: Does Watts while running mean anything or relate to bike watts?

trix - 2011-05-19 10:04 PM how would you measure watts while running?

 

By definition, a watt is a certain amount of work (1 joule per second), but I have no idea how you can do that with a treadmill considering it is powering the movement, not you like on a bike...I guess it could estimate it based on its power usage, but I wouldn't really follow it too much.

2011-05-19 10:27 PM
in reply to: #3509187

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Does Watts while running mean anything or relate to bike watts?

In principle, it is no problem measuring watts on a treadmill.  (If it has an incline, it better have asked you your weight.)  In practice, those things are notoriously inaccurate.

To answer your question, while training by Watts for running would be impractical, you definitely should take into account similar considerations.  A hilly 10 miles -- especially one where you went hard on the hills (up), takes a harder toll on your body than the same distance done flat.

2011-05-19 10:56 PM
in reply to: #3509187


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Subject: RE: Does Watts while running mean anything or relate to bike watts?

peto_primo - 2011-05-19 8:02 PM

How would watts running compare to what one could or should show on the bike?

Rule of thumb is that running on flat firm ground takes about 1 kcal/kg/km. If your gross metabolic efficiency is around 24% that means that your speed in m/s is a ballpark estimator for your watts/kg.

So, running a flat 10k in 48:00 takes roughly 3.5 watts/kg. If you weigh 70kg that's roughly 240 watts.

YMMV.

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