BRACE: Breathing Rate and Running Race Performance
A running study at the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel
How fast will you run your next half marathon? The BRACE study investigates whether race times can be predicted using breathing rate, heart rate and GPS data collected during a regular training period. You train in your usual environment, take part in your planned half marathon and then visit the University of Basel for a comprehensive performance assessment.
What is the study about?
Knowing what race time to aim for helps runners plan their training and choose an appropriate pace. At present, race-time estimates are based either on laboratory assessments, such as measurements of maximal oxygen uptake and ventilatory thresholds, or on predictions from commercial sports watches, which may be inaccurate.
Breathing rate has received relatively little attention as a predictor of running performance, even though it can now be measured non-invasively using commercially available headphones with a built-in microphone. Combined with heart-rate and GPS data from your own sports watch, these measurements provide insight into how you train and race in real-world conditions. Using these data together with the results of a single laboratory visit after your race, we aim to develop a computer-based model that predicts individual race times. In the longer term, this approach could help runners plan their training and race-day pacing without needing a laboratory assessment beforehand.
What will you receive?
Performance assessment
A cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on a treadmill, including an assessment of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and the ventilatory thresholds VT1 and VT2. These results can be used to determine your individual training zones.
Body composition and lung function
A DXA scan to assess your body fat, muscle and bone composition, plus a spirometry test to assess your lung function.
Training plan and equipment
Three months of free access to the running.COACH app, including a structured training plan, and Shokz open-ear headphones to use during the study.
Who is conducting the study?
The study is conducted by the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health (DSBG) at the University of Basel and led by Dr Jonathan Wagner. Our project partner, BreezeLabs AG, develops the software used to measure breathing rate, while running.COACH provides the training plan. The project is funded by Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency.
The study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Northwest and Central Switzerland (EKNZ; BASEC no. 2026-01237). Participation is voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time without giving a reason. All data are handled confidentially and processed in coded form.