Using watts on elliptical machine as a measure of running pace?

running pace wrote:

Has anyone figured out how watts correlates to running pace? I've been using the elliptical machine alot due to an injury and would like to know if it's possible to convert watts on a elliptical to running pace. Anyone know?

Use a heart-rate monitor if you use anything.

I use a HRM too but was curious if there's some way to use watts as a measurement of performance or fitness. For example, if the machine reads 130 watts, it would be nice to know that that's roughly 7min pace. I don't expect an exact conversion, just a rough estimate since I'm so used to dealing with pace as a level of effort and fitness.

Calculate calories per minute for a given running pace (supposedly this is a function of weight and not pace). Your elliptical should have a display that shows calories per minute. If not, then convert calories per minute to watts.

ok, thanks. That makes sense. Also, about using the HRM on machines like the elliptical. Is it a 1:1 equivalent? If I'm doing 85% effort on a elliptical is this equivalent to 85% effort while running? Like say I wanted to do an easy 10 miler (something like 70 minutes at 80%-85% effort). Is doing 80-85% for 70 minutes on the elliptical going to be about the same aerobically as running? There seems to be some debate that you have to put in more work on an elliptical to get the same benefit as running but if the effort is the same, why does this matteR?

An elliptical gives you about 75% of what running for the same amount of time gives you.

ykwia wrote:

An elliptical gives you about 75% of what running for the same amount of time gives you.

Where did you get that number from?