Following our research on exercise physiology, we just released our new work based on our previously developed model for running performance.
In this work we analyze more than 100 years of running world records from 800m to the marathon, since 1918 for men and since 1983 for women (why? Because until 1984, women were not allowed to run more than 1500m at the Olympic Games). The figure shows the men’s world records, relative to the 1st race times in the year 1918.
In addition to the mathematical analysis, we put world record improvements into perspective to advances in training, cultural changes, doping and technological progress.
While world records plateaued since the mid-2000, we have seen a clear upturn since 2017 which we interpret in terms of the emergence of new-generation shoes and of the wavelight pacing system for running tracks.
The preprint is available online (https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.09171), the review process by the scientific journal is underway.
More applications of our model are to come. Check back here…