Anaerobic Speed Reserve, Sprint Force-Velocity Profile, Kinematic Characteristics, and Jump Ability among Elite Male Speed- and Endurance-Adapted Milers.

Pedro Jiménez-Reyes,Arturo Casado,Juan A Párraga-Montilla,Víctor Cuadrado-Peñafiel,Natalia Romero-Franco

doi:10.3390/ijerph19031447

Abstract

This study aimed to compare sprint, jump performance, and sprint mechanical variables between endurance-adapted milers (EAM, specialized in 1500–3000-m) and speed-adapted milers (SAM, specialized in 800–1500 m) and to examine the relationships between maximal sprint speed (MSS), anaerobic speed reserve (ASR), sprint, jump performance, and sprint mechanical characteristics of elite middle-distance runners. Fifteen participants (8 EAM; 7 SAM) were evaluated to obtain their maximal aerobic speed, sprint mechanical characteristics (force–velocity profile and kinematic variables), jump, and sprint performance. SAM displayed greater MSS, ASR, horizontal jump, sprint performance, and mechanical ability than EAM (p < 0.05). SAM also showed higher stiffness in the 40-m sprint (p = 0.026) and a higher ratio of horizontal-to-resultant force (RF) at 10 m (p = 0.003) and RFpeak (p = 0.024). MSS and ASR correlated with horizontal (r = 0.76) and vertical (r = 0.64) jumps, all sprint split times (r ≤ −0.85), stiffness (r = 0.86), and mechanical characteristics (r ≥ 0.56) during the 100-m sprint, and physical qualities during acceleration (r ≥ 0.66) and sprint mechanical effectiveness from the force–velocity profile (r ≥ 0.69). Season-best times in the 800 m were significantly correlated with MSS (r = −0.86). Sprint ability has a crucial relevance in middle-distance runners’ performance, especially for SAM.

Highlights

Performance in middle-distance runners is determined by tactical decision-making and physiological and mechanical factors [1]
The large correlation observed between maximal sprint speed (MSS) and 800 m performance is in line with findings from Sandford et al, who reported an influence of anaerobic speed reserve (ASR) on the variability of running performance in elite 800 m runners when assuming similar maximal aerobic speed (MAS) values and, the ASR was determined by MSS [7]
Results from the present study indicate that ASR was not significantly correlated with 800 m performance, the correlation was higher than that observed with 1500 m performance

Summary

Introduction

Performance in middle-distance runners is determined by tactical decision-making and physiological and mechanical factors [1]. Athletes need to sustain running velocities at and above maximal aerobic speed (MAS), deemed as the minimum speed at which maximum oxygen uptake is attained, and develop their sprinting ability to a great extent in order to achieve successful performances at major championships [3,4]. Running economy and MAS are considered main middledistance running performance determinants [5], recent studies highlight the important role of anaerobic qualities [6,7] such as anaerobic speed reserve (ASR), which is the speed zone ranging from MAS to maximal sprint speed (MSS) [8,9]. ASR should be considered to understand the underpinning mechanisms explaining their performance.

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Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion