Simply put, cadence is the number of steps you take per minute with both feet. It is a frequently measured running metric and can tell you quite a lot about your form. For example, at a given pace, a higher cadence and shorter stride length result in lower forces on many parts of the body (e.g. ankles, knees and hips). According to a common view among experts, reducing these forces lowers the risk of injury, among other things. Clearly, cadence can only be increased up to a certain point, but runners who are particularly prone to injury may benefit from increasing their cadence. It is often said that the correct running cadence is 180 steps per minute, but taller runners usually have a somewhat lower cadence. Interestingly, a higher cadence is also associated with lower vertical oscillation and shorter ground contact time.
