Determination of Submaximal and Maximal Training Zones From a 3-Stage, Variable-Duration, Perceptually Regulated Track Test

Abstract

Purpose: To validate a new perceptually regulated, self-paced maximal oxygen consumption field test (the Running Advisor Billat Training [RABIT] test) that can be used by recreational runners to define personalized training zones. Design: In a cross-sectional study, male and female recreational runners (N = 12; mean [SD] age = 43 [8] y) completed 3 maximal exercise tests (2 RABIT tests and a University of Montreal Track Test), with a 48-hour interval between tests. Methods: The University of Montreal Track Test was a continuous, incremental track test with a 0.5-km·h−1 increment every minute until exhaustion. The RABIT tests were conducted at intensities of 11, 14, and 17 on the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale for 10, 5, and 3 minutes, respectively, with a 1-minute rest between efforts. Results: The 2 RABIT tests and the University of Montreal Track Test gave similar mean (SD) maximal oxygen consumption values (53.9 [6.4], 56.4 [9.1], and 55.4 [7.6] mL·kg−1·min−1, respectively, P = .722). The cardiorespiratory and speed responses were reliable as a function of the running intensity (RPE: 11, 14, and 17) and the relative time point for each RPE stage. Indeed, the oxygen consumption, heart rate, ventilation, and speed values did not differ significantly when the running time was expressed as a relative duration of 30%, 60%, or 90% (ie, at 3, 6, and 9 min of a 10-min effort at RPE 11; P = .997). Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the RABIT test is a valid method for defining submaximal and maximal training zones in recreational runners.

Pacing Strategy Affects the Sub-Elite Marathoner’s Cardiac Drift and Performance

“…However, the human self-paces his/her effort in real life, and notably in races from the 1,500-m middle-distance event upwards; we have used differential modeling of anaerobic and aerobic metabolism to show that runners continuously adjust their speed as a function of the remaining anaerobic capacity reserve . The latter finding demonstrated that runners are able to adjust their effort by varying their running speed according to perceived effort (Giovanelli et al, 2019;Molinari et al, 2019).…”

“…We recently found that recreational runners were able to adjust their acceleration every 4 s by asking them to do "soft, " "medium, " or "hard" accelerations (Billat et al, 2018). Molinari et al (2019) showed that the runners maintained their speed in a steady-state manner during the submaximal stages (RPE 11 and 14) while increasing the intensity of their cardiorespiratory responses as the run continues. In contrast, our recreational runners maintained theirVO2max during the maximal stage (RPE 17) by dropping their running speed.…”

Effects of preferred music on physiological responses, perceived exertion, and anaerobic threshold determination in an incremental running test on both sexes

“…Therefore, the highest workload that still leads to an equilibrium between lactate production and removal is termed as the iAT [25] and can be determined by reliable mathematical analysis, such as the bissegmentation of two linear regressions along with linear interpolation [28][29][30]. Before the iAT attainment (moderate and heavy domains), physiological responses are not expected to abruptly increase, reflecting a stability that is favorable to maintenance of exercise [31,32]. On the other hand, at intensities higher than iAT (severe domain), the physiological balance is gradually lost, leading to exhaustion [33].…”

Is there a relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and executive performance as function of mental workload in young adults?

“…In addition, there is no significant difference between maximal parameters (e.g., VO 2 max, maximal heart rate, maximal respiratory exchange ratio) measured with the RABIT test and with a graded exercise test (i.e., incremental exercise) (Giovanelli et al, 2020). Moreover, the cardiorespiratory responses assessed with the RABIT R test are reliable as a function of the running intensity (Molinari et al, 2020). Thus, the peak of VO 2 is reached close to maximal intensity of exercise during the test.…”

“…The RABIT R is self-paced determination test used to assess the CRF determined by the VO 2 peak. This test has recently been developed, and cardiorespiratory parameters measured during this last were well related with parameters measured during the graded exercise test (r 2 = 0.83) (Giovanelli et al, 2020) and the University of Montreal track test (r 2 = 0.79) (Molinari et al, 2020). More precisely, the RABIT R test is validated to measure the maximal oxygen consumption obtained because its values of maximal oxygen consumption are correlated with the values obtained with the University of Montreal track test.…”