The Dmax is Highly Related to Performance in Middle-Aged Females

The present study examined whether the running speed at the lactate threshold estimated by the maximal deviation method (LT(Dmax)) is highly correlated and in agreement with 10-km road race performance (S(10km)) in middle-aged female runners. Additionally, the LT(Dmax) was compared with the visual detection of the inflection point (LT(Visual)), the fixed lactate level of 4 mmol.L(-1) (LT(4)) and the peak speed (S(peak)) in relation to performance. Sixteen middle-aged, recreational female runners performed a discontinuous, incremental treadmill test. The initial speed was set at 7 km. h(-1), and this speed was increased every 3 min by 1 km.h(-1) with a 30-s rest between the stages used for earlobe capillary blood sample collection. All of the participants took part in the same local 10-km road race, and S(10km) mean speed was calculated. The speeds (mean +/- SD) were 10.5 +/- 1.0 (S(10km)), 10.5 +/- 1.0 (LT(Visual)), 10.9 +/- 0.9 (LT(Dmax)), 11.4 +/- 1.3 (LT(4)) and 13.5 +/- 1.1 km. h(-1) (S(peak)). The LT(Dmax) had the narrowest limits of agreement (0.3 +/- 0.4 km. h(-1)) and was the most highly correlated with the S(10km) (r = 0.98), followed by the S(peak) (r = 0.95), LT(4) (r = 0.85) and LT(Visual) (r = 0.81). In conclusion, the LT(Dmax) should be more widely used to estimate long-distance performance and to verify improvements in training.