Relationship between Individual Differences in a Steady Pace Endurance Running Performance and Maximal Oxygen Intake

Abstract

Abstract The relationship between individual differences in a steady-pace endurance running test and maximal oxygen intake (L/min., ml/kg·min, ml/kg LBW·min) was determined in 25 college men. In the running test subjects attempted to maintain an initial running speed of 10 mph (4.89 yd/sec) for 10 min. as they were paced around a 440-yd. track. Running performance was scored as running time between consecutive sections of the track, and an endurance score was calculated as the cumulated distance run during each minute. Max VO2 (ml/kg-min) correlated r = .61 with cumulative distance after 5 min. of running. Validity correlations were only slightly increased by including minutes 8 to 10. Expressing max VO2 in either L/min. or ml/kg LBW·min did not improve the correlation. Percent drop-off in running speed from the initial pace averaged 16% at minute 5 and 31% at minute 10. Body weight and percent body fat were inversely correlated with 10 min. of cumulative performance (r = -.33 and -.43, respectively). At ...