Abstract
Background
Biomechanical adaptations to sloped running have been widely studied in laboratory settings, but these are limited by artificial conditions and constrained speeds. Advances in wearable technology now allow for analysis of running biomechanics in real-world environments.
Aims
This study examined the relationship between surface gradient, running speed, and cadence in recreational runners using field-based data.
Methods
Data were extracted from the We-TRAC database, comprising GPS-enabled Garmin watch records. Runs were included if they spanned at least 5 km, featured elevation changes over 100 m, and averaged speeds above 1.2 m/s. Each run was segmented into 100 m intervals and categorized by slope: uphill (+ 3 to 15%), level (− 2 to + 2%), and downhill (− 3 to − 15%).
Results
A total of 148 participants (3001 runs) were included. Uphill segments showed significantly reduced cadence and speed compared to level segments (p
Description
The study highlights slope-dependent adaptations in running speed and cadence.