Indexes Of Maximal Aerobic Speed And Its Relationship With Performance Of Recreational Runners

Abstract

Maximal aerobic speed (MAS) is an important parameter used to predict performance of endurance runners and to prescribe the training. However, there is no consensus of the best way to determine it. Because previous studies that correlated these indexes with performance were performed with samples of different characteristics, the differences between the indexes as well as the index that has the highest correlation with endurance running performance remain unknown in recreational male runners. PURPOSE: To compare and examine the relationship between different indexes of MAS with the performance of endurance recreational runners. METHODS: Twenty-one male recreational amateur runners (VO2max: 54.0 ± 7.6 mL•kg-1•min-1) performed two continuous incremental exercise tests to obtain six different index for the determination of MAS. One test used gas analyzer to determine the indexes and the other did not use it and exclusively determined peak speed (Vpeak) at treadmill. We used definitions of Billat, Lacour, di Prampero, Daniels and Kuipers and their coworkers to obtain the different indexes of MAS. The indexes determined based on the VO2max assessments were named vVO2max. Thereafter, each participant realized one performance of 10-km in a 400-m track. Each test was separated by at least 48 h. RESULTS: Vpeak determine without metabolic equipment was the index for the determination of MAS that better correlated with 10-km (r = 0.77 (0.52-0.90)) running performance, as well as presented the lowest SEE (1.26 km•h-1) and the following equation for this performance (v10km = -4.33 + 1.07 x Vpeak). Vpeak determined with metabolic equipment (14.9 ± 1.4 km•h-1) was significantly lower than Vpeak without it (15.2 ± 1.4 km•h-1), vVO2max defined by Billat (15.1 ± 1.5 km•h-1) and vVO2max defined by Lacour (15.5 ± 1.7 km•h-1). The vVO2max defined by Lacour was significantly higher than Vpeak without metabolic equipment, vVO2max defined by di Prampero (15.1 ± 1.5 km•h-1) and vVO2max defined by Daniels (14.8 ± 1.6 km•h-1). CONCLUSIONS: Vpeak without metabolic equipment presented the highest correlations with performance in recreational runners.