Determinants of performance in 1,500-m runners

Abstract

Our aim was to investigate the relationship between physiological variables (not previously studied) and performance in elite 1,500-m runners. We assessed eight male athletes with an average personal best time of 233.3 ± 6.9 s (110% of the world record) for the 1,500-m race. Ventilatory measurements, maximal oxygen consumption VO2max maximal vastus lateralis muscle deoxygenation (∆[deoxy(Hb+Mb)])max via near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and maximal velocity (V (max)) were obtained during an incremental treadmill test. During subsequent constant-speed exercise at Vmax, we determined the time to exhaustion (Tlim), end-exercise blood lactate concentration ([La]b(max)), VO2 and ∆[deoxy(Hb+Mb)] kinetics parameters. The mean VO2max, [La]b(max) and Vmax were 70.2 ± 3.9 mL kg(-1) min(-1), 12.7 ± 2.4 mmol L(-1), 21.5 ± 0.5 km h(-1), respectively. VO2 at Vmax showed a significant negative correlation with Tlim, whereas [La]b(max) was positively correlated with Tlim. Race speed was found to significantly correlate with ∆[deoxy(Hb+Mb)](max) (79% of maximal value obtained during a transient limb ischemia), ∆[deoxy(Hb+Mb)] slow component (22.9 ± 9.3% of total amplitude) and [La]b(max) at Vmax. [La]b(max) at Vmax was also significantly correlated with ∆[deoxy(Hb+Mb)] slow component, suggesting a greater release of oxygen from the hemoglobin due to the Bohr effect. We conclude that both the maximal capacity of muscle to extract O2 from the blood and the end-exercise blood lactate accumulation are important predictors of best performance in 1,500-m runners.

Relation between 1,500-m running performance and running economy during high-intensity running in well-trained distance runners

“…, similar to values found in previous studies 9,10,[28][29][30] . It may have been the case that the subjects in this study had nearly elitelevel physiological capacities, but slightly lower running performance than elite 1,500-m runners.…”

“…The main finding was that RE measured at an intensity above the LT was more strongly related to 1,500-m velocity, in agreement with our hypothesis. The 1,500-m running performance of our subjects was slightly lower than that in previous studies 9,10,28) ; however, V ・ O2max was approximately 70 mL·kg…”

“…Correlation coefficients for the relationships between 1,500-m velocity and running economy measured below and above the lactate threshold intensity (n = 34). 10,28) , except in the study of Ingham et al 9) , which to the best of our knowledge, is the only study to report such a relation in top-level runners (season best times 3'44"1 ± 6"5, n = 15). In this study involving welltrained runners, the relation between 1,500-m velocity and V ・ O2max was weak (r = 0.19).…”

“…V ・ O2max was used as a relative value (mL·kg −1 ·min −1 ) rather than an absolute value (L·min −1 ) in this study. The reason underlying this is that other researchers [1][2][3][4][5]9,10,[28][29][30] who investigated distance running performance often used a relative V ・ O2max value; therefore, we can compare our values with the values from their studies. When a relative V ・ O2max value is replaced by an absolute V ・ O2max value, the correlation between V ・ O2max and a 1,500-m running velocity is observed to be slightly stronger, but it is still not a significant relationship (r = 0.25, P = 0.15).…”

Muscle Oxygen Extraction Is Higher during Constant Work Exercise than during Incremental Ramp Exercise

“…In addition, the capacity to accumulate more lactate and produce more energy via anaerobic metabolism seems to be related to peripheral factors, such as the percentage of fast-twitch fibers. In agreement with this hypothesis, the HHb slow component has been reported to be strongly correlated with lactate concentrations during running (Ferri et al 2012). Therefore, the CWE protocol elicits greater deoxygenation, probably because of greater lactic acidosis, and possibly changes the recruitment of different fiber types, favoring fast-twitch fibers.…”