Using the Biomechanics & Running Economy Article, please answer the questions below.

1. What is the traditional measure that is/has been used to represent Running Economy (RE)? Why is running economy (or economy of effort for that matter) important to endurance athletes?
2. What does Dr. Anderson mean when he refers to aerobic power?
3. Why would it be difficult to define/determine true mechanical efficiency of running?
4. What effect would the variables of height, weight, limb length and distribution of mass have on running performance?
5. In regards to gait, what two components of gait combine to determine running speed?
6. Why would stride length vary greatly between individuals (i.e., why would each individual have their own, specific, stride length)? Why would purposely increasing or decreasing this length most likely have a negative effect on performance?
7. Why would the stretch-shortening cycle play a significant role in improving RE? Which type of muscle contraction(s) would augment/increase the storage of elastic energy in tendons?
8. How might training influence RE?
9. What happens to connective tissue as we age? What implications does this have for running performance?