Speed in Athletic Performance
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Physical exercise is a significant factor that influences daily calorie consumption. Each activity has a unique energy expenditure, which is further influenced by individual factors such as age, gender, weight, and most importantly, lean mass. Among the various exercises, running is particularly notable for its calorie-burning potential, owing to the natural movement and practicality it offers.
Running, regardless of the level at which it is practiced, allows you to burn approximately 1 Kcal per kg of body weight per kilometer. In simpler terms, a person weighing 100kg burns about 100Kcal for every kilometer they run.
In contrast, walking consumes fewer calories, approximately 0.5 Kcal per kg per km. Therefore, the energy expenditure for running is calculated as 1 x km traveled x kg of body weight, while for walking, it's 0.50 per km traveled x kg of body weight.
However, it is essential to note that the famous 1 Kcal per kg of body weight consumed per km of running is only an indicative figure. The actual value is influenced by numerous factors, including the slope and type of terrain, the individual's level of training, wind, and clothing.
Interestingly, speed does not significantly influence energy expenditure.
Several factors can influence the total caloric expenditure while running. The degree of training and the efficiency of the running motion can influence approximately 10% of total caloric expenditure. When comparing a highly trained athlete with a sedentary individual, this difference can reach up to 40%.
The type of terrain also significantly influences energy expenditure. Running on challenging surfaces such as sand, snow, or cross-country trails requires higher calorie consumption than running on flat asphalt.
The weight of the running shoes plays a very important role in calorie consumption. Research suggests that shoes with different insoles greatly influence running performance.
Running outdoors rather than on a treadmill implies up to 10% higher energy cost, due to the greater resistance offered by the air. A wind blowing at against the direction of travel increases energy expenditure by 5%, which rises to more than 40% if the wind is trong.
Even seemingly minor factors like haircuts, clothing, hair and beards influence total calorie consumption.
Running is not only an excellent way to burn calories but also an effective method to burn fat. The best way to run for fat burning purposes is to engage in aerobic activity, which optimizes the body's ability to use fat as an energy source.
Considering all this, running is an effective way to burn calories and fat. However, the actual amount of calories burned depends on various factors, including weight, terrain, wind resistance, clothing, and even the runner's grooming. Despite these variables, the approximation of 1 kcal per kg per km for running provides a generally acceptable estimate of total energy expenditure.