Could middle- and long-distance running performance of well-trained athletes be best predicted by the same aerobic parameters?

Benedito Sérgio Denadai, Camila Coelho Greco, Benedito Sérgio Denadai, Camila Coelho Greco

Abstract

The prediction of running performance at different competitive distances is a challenge, since it can be influenced by several physiological, morphological and biomechanical factors. In experienced male runners heterogeneous for maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), endurance running performance can be well predicted by several key parameters of aerobic fitness such as VO2max and its respective velocity (vVO2max), running economy, blood lactate response to exercise, oxygen uptake kinetics and critical velocity. However, for a homogeneous group of well-trained endurance runners, the relationship between aerobic fitness parameters and endurance running performance seems to be influenced by the duration of the race (i.e., middle vs. long). Although middle-distance and ultramarathon runners present high aerobic fitness levels, there is no accumulating evidence showing that the aerobic key parameters influence both 800-m and ultramarathon performance in homogeneous group of well-trained runners. The vVO2max seems to be the best predictor of performance for 1500 m. For 3000 m, both vVO2max and blood lactate response to exercise are the main predictors of performance. Finally, for long distance events (5000 m, 10,000 m, marathon and ultramarathon), blood lactate response seems to be main predictor of performance. The different limiting/determinants factors and/or training-induced changes in aerobic parameters can help to explain this time- or distance-dependent pattern.

Keywords: Aerobic exercise; Lactate threshold; Maximal oxygen uptake; Running economy.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

© 2022 The Authors.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Bottom panel: Schematic illustration of the effect of race distance on the time to complete the race. Top panel: Schematic showing the contribution of key aerobic parameters to endurance running performance of well-trained athletes. Note that in the intermediary events (from 1500-m to marathon), a time- or distance-dependent pattern can be observed. See text for detailed explanation. VO2max - maximal oxygen uptake; vVO2max - velocity at VO2max; RE - running economy; BLR - blood lactate response; VO2 kinetics - oxygen uptake kinetics; Aer/An % - percentage contribution of anaerobic and aerobic systems.

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