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The relationship between physiological measurements and cross-country running performance

Seven highly trained male collegiate distance runners were studied throughout a competitive cross-country season. Common laboratory and field measures were used to assess physiological adaptation and performance capacity. The subjects were tested pre-, mid-, and post-season for maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), running economy (RE), heart rate at 268 m-min…1 (HR268), fractional utilization of the aerobic capacity (%VO2max), fraction utilization of the maximal heart rate (%HRmax), ventilatory threshold (VT), and time to exhaustion (TTE). Prior to each scheduled competition submaximal hear rate (HR) and submaximal blood lactate accumulation (bLa) were determined from a one-mile run on an indoor track. Five subjects ran at 5 min 30 sec per mile pace and two ran at a 6 min per mile pace (mean intensity = 83.14 + 4.44% VO2max). VO2max, RE, % VO2max, %HRmax and TTE all significantly improved over the season (p < 0.05). VT and HR268 remained unchanged. % VO2max and %HRmax exhibited the highest correlations to performance within a given competition (range r = .525 to .722 and .571 to .844, respectively). HR and bLa did not change during the season. These results suggest: 1) % VO2max and %HRmax are the best predictors of cross-country running performance among the variables measured whereas 2) field trials employing single HR and single bLa measurements are not indicators of endurance running performance in highly trained distance runners. / Human Performance Laboratory

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/183945
Date January 1990
CreatorsLambert, Gerald Patrick
ContributorsBall State University. Human Performance Laboratory., Costill, David L.
Source SetsBall State University
Detected LanguageEnglish
Formatix, 78 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm.
SourceVirtual Press

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