Calculators for Performance, Times, Energy Expenditure etc.
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Experience From -
Dr. Bill Misner, Ph.D. ,
Chuck Yeager ,
Dr. Bill Misner, Ph.D.
Some athletes enhance personal endurance performance by accurately measuring a variety of performance variables. Others choose not to think about the elements contributing to faster times but prefer to keep their running "complication free".
Of the two genotypes described, I enjoy applying principle analytical measurements for enhancing distance, rate, and strength during the run. Here are some of my favorite performance links or calculators I use to interpret whether my training protocols are producing progressive performance results:
- Dr Pribut's Running Injuries Page has an excellent page for Pace Calculators Training Heart Rate, VO2 Max or Running from Distance Prediction Calculators.
- A fairly interesting calculator for cycling Heart Rate (HR) from Boulder Cycling is the
JavaScript Training Level Calculator, Here is a rather Spartan JavaScript version of LevelCalc. This one calculates heart rate values based entirely upon the BCF/Peter Keen guidelines:
Footnote: With the one important change to allow people who have no idea what there maximum heart rate (MHR) is can estimate from the equation MHR=220-age. LevelCalc is better - but only if you can run Windows software. I use the BCF method because it "feels" right. All I really need to do to achieve my own personal training goals is to spend as much time as possible at level 2, with my pedals spinning at around 90 rpm. (by Nigel Jones) (Age in years vs. Maximum heart rate, MHR.)
- The Cross County, Track and Running Analysis Calculates Performance factor, VO2max, Purdy Points and Hung. Pts for a given distance and time. Also predicts performance at other distances. Enter time in hr:min:sec.tenths format.
- The Team Oregon Pace Wizard can be used to compute effort based paces and pulse rates for training and racing. The Wizard uses your recent race performances to determine your ability. If you know your Max and Rest Pulse rates the Wizard will use those to determine your target pulse rates for training and racing. Otherwise Wizard will assume 220 - age for your Max and 50 for Rest HR:
- The Runners World Page has a Race Time Calculator will calculate a predicted time at a distance for you based on a time you provide for another distance. It will accept (and return) times for several common race distances from 1500m to the marathon. It uses the formula T2 = T1 x (D2/D1)1.07:
NOTE: Refer to the "Training & Racing" section for the calculators
- Here is a Nutritional Analysis Calculator that you may find useful for your 1999 Training Table. Made any resolutions? Since this "Calculator" is NOW at your fingertips, there is only one reason for bad eating habits to hinder progressive training results....in one word, "Willpower",......Check it out
- The Nutrition Analysis Tool (NAT) at the University of
Illinois in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition by Chris Hewes is an internet based program that will calculate the amount of energy you expend in a given about of time. http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/~food-lab/energy/ec.html
- The ideal BMI or Body Mass Index of top ultrarunners ranges on the low side between 19-20, however BMI is very individual and determined by genetics and dietary health habits. The best BMI calculator I have found is the one found on the Obesity Teatment Center page
SUMMARY
There are many other types of appropriate computerized calculators that may enhance endurance performance if the athlete takes the time and applies both mind and body to improving time and distance.
Chuck Yeager
I played with the Basic Prediction calculator from RunCoach and in short it amazed me. I found it to be a very accurate finish time
predictor up to the marathon, which is the longest race I have done. I entered times for distances I have run, from 5k's to half marathons, and despite the different paces it still was within 2-3 minutes of my marathon time in all cases. This spring I will see how close it comes to predicting a 50 miler.