Abstract
This study aimed to examine which variable, between the peak running velocity determined on the track field (Vpeak_TF) and critical speed (CS), is the best predictor of the 5-km running performance in recreational runners. Twenty-five males performed three tests to determine the Vpeak_TF, CS, and 5-km running performance on the track field, with a minimal interval of 48 h between each test. The Vpeak_TF protocol started with a velocity of 8 km⋅h–1, followed by an increase of 1 km⋅h–1 every 3 min until volitional exhaustion, which was controlled by sound signals, with cones at every 25 m indicating when the participants were required to pass the cone’s position to maintain the required velocity. The participants performed three time trials (TTs) (1: 2,600 m; 2: 1,800 m; and 3: 1,000 m) on the same day, with a 30-min rest period to determine the CS through the combinations of three (CS1,2,3) and two TTs (CS1,2, CS1,3, and CS2,3). The 5-km running performance time was recorded to determine the test duration, and the mean velocity (MV) was calculated. There was a significant difference observed between the Vpeak_TF and the MV 5-km running performance. However, no differences were found between the CS values and the MV 5-km running performance. A correlation was observed between the Vpeak_TF (R = −0.90), CS1,2,3 (R = −0.95), CS1,3 (R = −0.95), and the 5-km running performance time. Linear regression indicated that the Vpeak_TF (R2 = 0.82), CS1,2,3 (R2 = 0.90), and CS1,3 (R2 = 0.90) significantly predicted the 5-km running performance time. The CS results showed a higher predictive power for the 5-km running performance, slightly better than the Vpeak_TF. Also, CS1,2,3 and the CS1,3 presented the highest predictive power for the 5-km running performance of recreational runners.
Highlights
Millions of recreational runners participate in long-distance running competitions (i.e., 5 and 10 km) each year, being consistently considered among the most popular distances and with the greatest number of competitions, even greater than marathons (Cushman et al, 2014; Vickers and Vertosick, 2016)
The present study aimed to examine which variable, between the peak running velocity determined on the track field (Vpeak_TF) and the critical speed (CS), is the best predictor of the 5-km running performance in recreational runners
The main finding was that CS showed a higher correlation and predictive power for the 5-km running performance, slightly better than that of Vpeak_TF, which is contrary to the initial hypothesis
Summary
Millions of recreational runners participate in long-distance running competitions (i.e., 5 and 10 km) each year, being consistently considered among the most popular distances and with the greatest number of competitions, even greater than marathons (Cushman et al, 2014; Vickers and Vertosick, 2016). It is important to apply test protocols that assess the aerobic capacity to accurately predict the running performance, to which aerobic metabolism contributes about 95% of the total energy expenditure (Busso and Chatagnon, 2006) It is possible through these test protocols to be able to identify the physiological and performance variables that might be used to improve the prediction of the runners’ performances, such as the maximal oxygen uptake (V O2max), the velocity of V O2max occurrence (vV O2max), running economy (RE), the responses associated with the blood lactate concentrations during exercise [i.e., lactate threshold (LT), anaerobic threshold (AnT), and maximal lactate steady state (MLSS)], peak running velocity (Vpeak), and critical speed (CS) (Machado et al, 2013; da Silva et al, 2015; Nimmerichter et al, 2016).
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