Running mechanics on different surfaces

Nah, but I can give you some off the top of the head comments along with the rest of "experts" here at Let's Run.

Who needs science when you got oh-pin-yuns.

I did my Master's research looking at step uncertainty while simulating night conditions and overground running. I used several references that looked at various surfaces, but don't have them with me at the moment. I'll try and get back to you.

A lot will depend on how you are going to come at this, but these should give you a good start/knowledge base on which to build. Enjoy.

Alexander, R. McN. (1990) The lessons from animal studies. In: Biomechanics of Distance Running. P.R. Cavanagh (ed). Human Kinetics Publ. Inc. Champaign Ill. USA.

Alexander, R. McN. (1991) Energy saving mechanisms in walking and running. Journal of Experimental Biology, 160, pp55-69.

Bonen, A., G.C. Gass, W.A. Kachadorian and R.R. Johnson (1974) The energy cost of walking and running on different surfaces. Australian Journal of Sports Medicine, 6 (1), pp5-11.

Cavagna, G.A., F.P. Saibene and R. Margaria (1964) Mechanical work in running. Journal of Applied Physiology, 19, pp249-256.

Cavanagh, P.R. and K.R. Williams (1982) The effect of stride length variation on oxygen uptake during distance running. Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 14, pp30-35.

Craib, M.W., V.A. Mitchell, K.B. Fields, T.R. Cooper, R. Hopewell and D.W. Morgan (1996) The association between flexibility and running economy in sub-elite male distance runners. Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 28, pp737-743.

Cureton, K.J., P.B. Sparling (1980) Distance running performance and metabolic responses to running in men and women with excess weight experimentally equated. Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 12, pp288-294.

Daniels, J.T. (1974) Physiological characteristics of champion male athletes. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 45, pp342-348.

Daniels, J.T., G. Krahenbuhl, C. Foster, J. Gilbert and S. Daniels (1977) Aerobic responses of female distance runners to submaximal and maximal exercise. Annals of New York Academy of Science, 301, pp726-733.

Dietz, Noth and Schmidtbleicher (1981) Interaction between pre-activity and stretch reflex in human triceps brachii during landing from forward falls. Journal of Physiology (London), 311, pp113-125.

Farley, C.T. and O. Gonzalez (1996) Leg stiffness and stride frequency in human running. Journal of Biomechanics. 29, pp181-186.

Farley, C.T., J. Glasheen and T.A. McMahon (1993) Running springs: speed and animal size. Journal of Experimental Biology. 185, pp71-86.

Farley, C.T., R. Blickhan, J. Saito and C.R. Taylor (1991) Hopping frequency in humans: a test of how springs set stride frequency in bouncing gaits. Journal of Applied Physiology 71, (6), pp2127-2132.

Ferris, D.P., and C.T. Farley (1997) Interaction of leg stiffness and surface stiffness during human hopping. Journal of Applied Physiology. 82 (1), pp15-22.

Fukuda, H. (1988) Biomechanical analysis of landing on surfaces with different stiffnesses. In: Biomechanics XI-B. G. De Groot, A.P. Hollander, P.A. Huijing, G.J. van Ingen Schenau (eds): Free University Press, Amsterdam. pp679-684.

Gollhofer, A. (1987) Innervation characteristics of M. Gastrocnemius during landing on different surfaces. In: Biomechanics X-B. B. Jonsson (ed), Human Kinetics Publ. Inc. Champaign Ill. pp701-706.

Heise, G.D. and P.E. Martin (1997) Leg spring characteristics and the aerobic demands of running. Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise. 30 (5), pp750-754.

Kinoshita, H., N. Fujii and H. Fukoda (1988) Responses of the lower extremity muscles to varied cushioning properties of the foot/ground interface during running. In: Biomechanics XI-B. G. De Groot, A.P. Hollander, P.A. Huijing, G.J. van Ingen Schenau (eds): Free University Press, Amsterdam. pp660-668.

McMahon, T.A. and P.R. Greene (1979) The influence of track compliance on running. Journal of Biomechanics. 12, pp893-904.

McMahon, T.A., G. Valiant and E.C. Frederick (1987) Groucho running. Journal of Applied Physiology. 62, pp2326-2337.

Wank, V., U. Frick and D. Schmidtbleicher (1998) Kinematics and electromyography of lower limb muscles in overground and treadmill running. International Journal of Sports Medicine. 19, pp455-461.

Williams, K., and P.R. Cavanagh (1987) Relationship between distance running mechanics, running economy and performance. Journal of Applied Physiology. 63, pp1236-1245.

Williams, K. (1990) Relationship between distance running biomechanics and running economy. In: Biomechanics of Distance Running. P.R. Cavanagh (ed). Human Kinetics Publ. Inc. Champaign, Ill, USA.

That's awsome...thanks!