Thoughts on metronome pacing while running? http://www.chirunning.com/blog/2009/03/16/the-metronome-best-training-tool-ever/

http://www.chirunning.com/shop/pages.php?tab=r&pageid=18&id=394 Any runners out there using this technique?

The 2nd article says:

"The response of most people when they use the metronome is pretty consistent. They feel an ease in their running almost immediately. Using the metronome affects many aspects of your form because when your cadence is correct a lot of things fall into line. For instance, when your cadence becomes a naturally sustained rhythm, it requires that you vary your stride length when you 're running at different speeds. If you think of changing your stride length to accommodate different levels of effort, your body learns to run with a set of gears and work in much the same way as your bicycle or your car. "

Thoughts?

*update

Also saw this on EverymanTri today, and thought I'd share. http://www.everymantri.com/everyman_triathlon/2009/03/and-the-perfect-running-pace-is.html

"A new running study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has come to two interesting and unexpected conclusions:

1) The optimal running speed for the group tested was about 8.3 mph (about a 7:13 minutes per mile) for males and 6.5 mph (9:08 min/mile) for females. For the sake of the study the optimal running speed is defined as the speed that used the least amount of energy to cover one mile.

2) At slower speeds, about 4.5 mph (13 min/mile), the metabolic efficiency was at its lowest. At this speed, halfway between a walk and a jog, the runner's gait can be awkward and unnatural."

Interesting research! Go Badgers!

Sara