How to Utilize Polar Running Index in Your Training
Running Index offers an easy way to monitor performance changes. Performance (how fast/easily you run at a given pace) is directly influenced by aerobic fitness (VO 2max) and exercise economy (how efficient your body is at running), and Running Index is a measurement of this influence. By recording your Running Index over time, you can monitor progress. Improvement means that running at a given pace requires less of an effort, or that your pace is faster at a given level of exertion. The Running Index feature calculates such improvements. Running Index also gives you daily information on your running performance level which may vary from day to day.
Benefits of Running Index:
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Running Index is calculated during every exercise when heart rate and the stride sensor/foot pod signal is recorded, and when the following requirements apply:
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Make sure that the stride sensor/foot pod is calibrated. Calculation begins when you start recording the session. During the session, you may stop once at traffic lights, for example, without interrupting the calculation.
In the end, your running computer displays a Running Index value and stores the result in the File section. Compare your result to the table below. Using the software, you can monitor and analyze your progress in Running Index values against time and different running speeds. Or compare values from different exercise sessions and analyze them in the short and long term.
Short-term and Long-term Analysis of Running Analysis
There may be some daily variation in the Running Indexes due to running circumstances e.g. surface, hills, wind, temperature.
The single Running Index values form a trend that predicts your success in running certain distances.
The following chart estimates the duration that a runner can achieve in certain distances when performing maximally. Use your long-term Running Index average in the interpretation of the chart. The prediction is best for those Running Index values that have been received at speed and running circumstances similar to the target performance.
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Running
Index |
Cooper test
(m) |
5 km
(h:mm:ss) |
10
km(h:mm:ss) |
21.098 km
(h:mm:ss) |
42.195 km
(h:mm:ss) |
| 36 | 1900 | 0:37:30 | 1:16:00 | 2:45:00 | 5:45:00 |
| 38 | 2000 | 0:35:00 | 1:11:30 | 2:34:00 | 5:20:00 |
| 40 | 2100 | 0:32:30 | 1:06:30 | 2:24:00 | 5:00:00 |
| 42 | 2200 | 0:30:45 | 1:03:00 | 2:16:00 | 4:45:00 |
| 44 | 2300 | 0:29:00 | 0:59:30 | 2:09:00 | 4:30:00 |
| 46 | 2400 | 0:28:00 | 0:57:30 | 2:04:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 48 | 2500 | 0:26:45 | 0:55:00 | 1:59:00 | 4:10:00 |
| 50 | 2600 | 0:25:30 | 0:52:30 | 1:54:00 | 4:00:00 |
| 52 | 2700 | 0:24:15 | 0:50:00 | 1:49:00 | 3:50:00 |
| 54 | 2850 | 0:23:15 | 0:48:00 | 1:44:00 | 3:40:00 |
| 56 | 2950 | 0:22:15 | 0:46:00 | 1:40:00 | 3:32:00 |
| 58 | 3100 | 0:21:15 | 0:44:00 | 1:36:00 | 3:25:00 |
| 60 | 3200 | 0:20:30 | 0:42:30 | 1:33:00 | 3:18:00 |
| 62 | 3300 | 0:19:30 | 0:40:30 | 1:29:00 | 3:10:00 |
| 64 | 3400 | 0:19:00 | 0:39:30 | 1:26:00 | 3:05:00 |
| 66 | 3500 | 0:18:30 | 0:38:30 | 1:24:00 | 3:00:00 |
| 68 | 3650 | 0:17:45 | 0:37:00 | 1:21:00 | 2:55:00 |
| 70 | 3750 | 0:17:15 | 0:36:00 | 1:19:00 | 2:50:00 |
| 72 | 3900 | 0:16:30 | 0:34:30 | 1:16:00 | 2:45:00 |
| 74 | 4000 | 0:16:00 | 0:33:30 | 1:14:00 | 2:40:00 |
| 76 | 4100 | 0:15:30 | 0:32:30 | 1:12:00 | 2:35:00 |
| 78 | 4200 | 0:15:15 | 0:32:00 | 1:10:00 | 2:30:00 |
It is worth remembering that in addition to good Running Index, maximal running performance demands good preparation, optimal running conditions, speed endurance and guts. Training quantity and quality have an affect as well as natural talent.
