Comparing Oxygen Consumption Across Different Running Surfaces

INTRODUCTION: Biomechanical analyses demonstrate how gait is affected by ground surface, however the metabolic cost of running over specific surface types is not as well understood. Cross-country runners routinely encounter multiple surfaces during a run, so understanding how oxygen demand might change for a given pace is important for training and racing. PURPOSE: This study examined whether running on grass increased oxygen consumption compared to running on a synthetic track during steady state overground running in trained collegiate runners. We hypothesize that oxygen cost will be higher on grass. METHODS: Fifteen Division III runners completed two counterbalanced 10-minute trials—one on natural grass and one on a synthetic track. Runners were instructed to maintain a comfortable sub-threshold pace while oxygen consumption was measured. A steady state five-minute segment during each 10-minute trial was analyzed using a paired-samples t-test. RESULTS: Oxygen consumption was significantly higher on grass (M = 34.8 ± 9.3 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) than on the synthetic track (M = 33.5 ± 9.8 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹). Heart rate and pace were not different between conditions. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that grass surfaces impose a greater metabolic cost than synthetic tracks even at a consistent, steady-state pace, suggesting that surface type is an important consideration for training load management and performance planning in endurance athletes.