RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VO(2)MAX AND THE AEROBIC DEMAND OF RUNNING IN ELITE DISTANCE RUNNERS

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between VO(2)max and the aerobic demand of running (VO(2)submax) in elite distance runners. On at least one occasion, VO(2)max and VO(2)submax values were obtained on 22 male subjects ((X) over bar age = 27 +/- 2 yrs; (X) over bar height = 178.6 +/- 6.8 cm; (X) over bar body mass = 64.1 +/- 5.6 kg; (X) over bar 10 km run time = 28.89 +/- 1.05 min) training for the 1994 Olympic Trials. Subjects performed 6-min, submaximal level-grade treadmill runs at four speeds (ranging from 4.47 to 5.50 m.s(-1)) to determine VO(2)submax. VO2 during each run was calculated by analyzing a 2-min gas sample collected during the last 2 min of running. These values were expressed relative to distance traveled and averaged to derive an overall VO(2)submax value. Shortly following these submaximal runs, VO(2)max was measured. When more than one set of VO(2)submax and VO(2)max data were available for a particular subject, the average of all tests was used. Results indicated that mean VO(2)max and VO(2)submax values were 75.8 +/- 3.4 ml.kg(-1).min(-1) and 184.6 +/- 8.6 ml.kg(-1).km(-1), respectively. Correlational analyses also revealed a significant relationship (r = 0.59; p < 0.01) between VO(2)max and VO(2)submax. These data suggest that among similarly-performing elite distance runners, a positive relationship exists between VO(2)max and the aerobic demand of running.