How do stride length and stride frequency influence the energy-output during running?

SummaryThe energy output is investigated during running at constant speed with varying length of stride and stride frequency.The results show that the most economical stride length always lies in the region of the freely chosen one when the subject is well-trained. An increase of stride length above the freely chosen one gives a larger increase of O2-consumption than a corresponding shortening of the stride. There is for every runner and every speed an optimum of stride length and frequency.