Analyzing Physiological Characteristics of Running Performance Using Real-World Data

This study compared two physiological modeling approaches, the Peronnet-Thibault (P-T) model and the Minimal Power (MP) model, to identify key parameters representing individual physiological characteristics and to explore their applications in running training. Model parameters were estimated using nonlinear least squares fitting, and predictive performance was evaluated by the mean absolute error (MAE). Results from the World Running Records (WRR) indicated that the MP model generally outperformed the P-T model in linking running performance with physiological variables, demonstrating greater capability in extracting physiological parameters. Further validation using the British Runner Records (BRR) showed that the MP model achieved MAE values of 3.02% for males and 3.47% for females, reflecting strong generalization to real running performance. Furthermore, descriptive analyses of the relationships between MP model parameters and running performance further support its potential value in personalized training and performance prediction.