Abstract
BackgroundThe primary aim was to examine the relationship between lactate threshold (LT) expressed as percentage of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and running velocity at LT (LTV). A secondary aim was to investigate to what extent VO2max, oxygen cost of running (CR), and maximal aerobic speed (MAS) determined LTV. A third aim was to investigate potential differences in LT and LTV between elite, national and recreational runners, as well as possible gender differences regarding VO2max, CR, LT, and LTV.MethodsSeventy-five competitive runners (37 males and 38 females) with an average VO2max of 63.0 ± 9.3 mL⋅kg–1⋅min–1, and an average LTV of 13.6 ± 2.3 km⋅h–1 were tested for VO2max, LT, LTV, MAS, and CR.ResultsLactate threshold did not correlate with LTV. With an r – value of 0.95 (p < 0.001) and a standard error of estimate of 4.0%, the product of MAS and individual LT determined 90% of LTV, outside a range of ±0.27 km⋅h–1. LTV increased with higher performance level. However, LT did not differ between elite, national and recreational runners. Female runners had 2.5% higher LT, 8% lower LTV, and 21% lower VO2max, but 9% better CR than male runners.ConclusionLactate threshold did not correlate with LTV. The product of MAS and LT correlated strongly with LTV. There were no differences between elite, national and recreational runners regarding LT, but female runners had higher LT than the male runners. Female runners at the same relative performance level had lower LTV and VO2max, but better CR than male runners.
Highlights
Long-distance running performance is mainly determined by maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), fractional utilization of VO2max or lactate threshold (LT), and oxygen cost of running (CR) (Conley and Krahenbuhl, 1980; Pate and Kriska, 1984; Rabadán et al, 2011)
There was no difference in CR between national and recreational runners, but the General Linear Model (GLM) showed better CR with higher performance level overall (p < 0.001)
There were no differences between the three performance levels regarding LT, but the elite runners had 15% better LTV than the national runners (p < 0.001), who in turn had 20% better LTV than the recreational runners
Summary
Long-distance running performance is mainly determined by maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), fractional utilization of VO2max or lactate threshold (LT), and oxygen cost of running (CR) (Conley and Krahenbuhl, 1980; Pate and Kriska, 1984; Rabadán et al, 2011). Running Velocity at Lactate Threshold (Brooks, 1986), i.e., the highest intensity point before the lactate concentration starts to increase during continuous exercise (Davis, 1985), called the maximal lactate steady state (MLSS). The primary aim was to examine the relationship between lactate threshold (LT) expressed as percentage of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and running velocity at LT (LTV). A secondary aim was to investigate to what extent VO2max, oxygen cost of running (CR), and maximal aerobic speed (MAS) determined LTV. A third aim was to investigate potential differences in LT and LTV between elite, national and recreational runners, as well as possible gender differences regarding VO2max, CR, LT, and LTV
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