Frequently asked questions
If your question is not answered here, write to us at brace-dsbg@clutterunibas.ch.
Yes. You need a sports watch that records heart rate and GPS data, as both are used in our prediction model. Any make or model is suitable as long as your activities can be exported.
No. We lend you Shokz open-ear headphones for the duration of the study, which you return afterwards. If you already own compatible headphones, you may use your own Shokz headphones or Apple AirPods.
The microphone signal is processed temporarily to estimate your breathing rate. In some cases, conversations may also be captured incidentally. The recordings are used solely to calculate breathing rate; speech content is not analysed, and the recordings are not retained after processing. We ask you to avoid speaking during recordings where possible, as this can affect measurement quality.
Your data are processed in coded form. Identifying information, such as your name and date of birth, is replaced by a code, and the code key is kept at the DSBG, University of Basel. Data collected using the headphones and the BreezeBelt are stored in pseudonymised form by our project partner BreezeLabs AG on a server in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Full details are provided in the participant information, which you receive before giving consent.
No. You are welcome to follow your existing plan. Alternatively, you can use a structured running.COACH plan tailored to your target race and current fitness level. Whichever option you choose, your sessions must be uploaded through running.COACH so that we can link them to the study measurements. We provide three months of free access.
You can choose any half marathon during the study period, for example the half marathon at the Zürich Marathon or another event. You are responsible for registering and securing your race entry.
The risks are low. The treadmill test may cause temporary dizziness or fatigue, and you may experience muscle soreness afterwards. The forceful breathing required during spirometry can be uncomfortable. A whole-body DXA scan involves a small amount of radiation (around 10 μSv), roughly one tenth of the dose of a conventional X-ray or comparable to a day of natural radiation exposure in the mountains. The headphones or the BreezeBelt may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals. Training and racing take place in your usual environment and carry the normal risks associated with running, independently of the study.
Yes. You may withdraw at any time without giving a reason. Data collected up to that point will continue to be analysed in coded form. Please take this into account when deciding whether to consent.
After your laboratory visit, you receive feedback on your performance assessment, including maximal oxygen uptake and ventilatory thresholds, which can be used to establish individual training zones. You also receive your DXA body-composition results and your lung-function results. Because the study involves healthy participants, it is not expected to provide a direct medical benefit.
Yes. The study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Northwest and Central Switzerland (EKNZ; BASEC no. 2026-01237) and is conducted in accordance with the applicable Swiss legislation and the internationally recognised guidelines for research involving human participants.
Yes. All participant documents are available in German and English, and study discussions can be conducted in English. You must be able to understand and follow the study procedures.