Running with no air resistance

Researchers at ETH Zurich have introduced an innovative training device known as the Airshield, designed to support track and field athletes in overspeed training.

From Superinnovators 23/07/24

Airshield overspeed training device in action. Credit: ETH Zurich.

The Airshield is a U-shaped Plexiglas windscreen mounted on wheels and driven ahead of the runner by a go-kart.

The device effectively eliminates air resistance, allowing athletes to run at speeds typically achievable only under competition conditions with heightened adrenaline levels.

Its speed is regulated by sensors that monitor the athlete’s speed in real-time, with the go-kart driver providing steering only.

Mujinga Kambundji, a Swiss sprinter, endorses the technology.

“Training with devices such as the Airshield helps me to squeeze out every last percent from my training. And it’s fun,” said Mujinga.

Overspeed training aims to optimise and internalise movement sequences at high speeds so athletes can transfer them to unassisted running, boosting performance.

Some sports scientists, coaches and athletes believe it enhances muscle firing rates, improves neuromuscular coordination and refines sprint techniques by decreasing ground contact time.

Credit: ETH Zurich

The training approach is not new, with existing methods including powered bungee towing devices, downhill sprints, strong following winds, and high-speed treadmills.

But researchers say the Airshield is an improvement on these practices as it allows for the most natural running style and ehances consistency.

Sprinters, long jumpers, triple jumpers, and hurdlers stand to benefit most from the device, however, other athletes such as football and rugby players, can also utilise the new approach.

The concept of using a moving shield to reduce air resistance has also been used to break sport speed records over the past decade.

In 2022, Dutch speed skater Kjeld Nuis set a world speed skating record using an aeroshield pulled by a car.

Kjeld reached a speed of 103kph (64mph) on natural ice surpassing his previous assisted record by 10kph (6mph).

“I was literally flying over the ice. Every little bump felt like a threshold. Sometimes I even got really loose from the ice,” said Kjeld.

“Skating that fast is technically challenging and requires precision.”

And cyclist Denise Mueller-Korenek broke the world cycling speed record with 184 mph (296 km/h) in 2019, using a similar approach.

Unfortuneately, the Airshield has come too late to impact the Pairs Olympics which kicks off on Friday, but perhaps we could see elevated performances at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.