The Contribution Of Selected Physiological Variables With Performance On The Classical Marathon Route

Abstract

Research has shown that success in distance running is influenced by such factors as maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), running economy, muscle fiber composition, substrate availability, lactate or ventilatory thresholds (VT) and the velocity associated with maximal oxygen consumption (vVO2max). The Athens Marathon is a historic race and it is regarded one of the most difficult in the world. Beside 2004 Olympic marathon race other word class marathon races i.e. European championships (1982), world marathon cup (1995) and world championships (1997) have also staged. The athletes run on the same route which was ran almost 2500 years ago by Pheidippides, a war messenger who died from exhaustion after passing on the news of victory. Because of its special difficulty any prediction of running times based on previous research data were questionable. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to asses the relationships among VT, VO2max, vVO2max and marathon time on the Original Marathon route in elite and good (EGR, n=15) and slow (SR, n=13) marathon runners. METHODS Maximal oxygen uptake, VT and vVO2max were measured using Douglas bags open circuit spirometry during treadmill exercise 2–3 weeks before the race. Ventilatory threshold was determined using non-invasive techniques. RESULTS The EGR and SR marathon runners averaged 163.3 and 217.9 min marathon finishing time, 63.3 and 52.7 ml.kgr−1·min−1 VO2max, 15.76 and 11.84 km.h−1 speed at VT, and 20.26 and 15.53 kmh−1 vVO2max respectively. The relationships between VO2max, VT, vVO2max and marathon time in EGR and SR were −0.27, −0.89*, −0.85* and −0.38, −0.90*, −0.82* respectively (*p<0,01). Applying stepwise multiple linear regression the multiple R increased (81% v 87%) significantly with the addition of VO2max l·min−1, and %VO2 at VT together with VT in the EGR runners. The multiple R also increased significantly (82% v 85%) with the addition of the %VO2max at VT together with VT in the SR. Treadmill speed at the VT alone explained 81% and 82% of the total variance in marathon performance for EGR and SR correspondingly. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that among trained and experienced runners VT and vVO2max can account for a large portion of the variance in marathon performance on the original Athens marathon course and can be used to predict performance and prescribe racing pace.