Physiological demands of running at 2-hour marathon race pace

Abstract

The requirements of running a 2 hour marathon have been extensively debated but the actual physiological demands of running at ~21.1 km/h have never been reported. We therefore conducted laboratory-based physiological evaluations and measured running economy (O2 cost) while running outdoors at ~21.1 km/h, in world-class distance runners as part of Nike's 'Breaking 2' marathon project. On separate days, 16 male distance runners (age, 29 ± 4 years; height, 1.72 ± 0.04 m; mass, 58.9 ± 3.3 kg) completed an incremental treadmill test for the assessment of V̇O2peak, O2 cost of submaximal running, lactate threshold and lactate turn-point, and a track test during which they ran continuously at 21.1 km/h. The laboratory-determined V̇O2peak was 71.0 ± 5.7 ml/kg/min with lactate threshold and lactate turn-point occurring at 18.9 ± 0.4 and 20.2 ± 0.6 km/h, corresponding to 83 ± 5 % and 92 ± 3 % V̇O2peak, respectively. Seven athletes were able to attain a steady-state V̇O2 when running outdoors at 21.1 km/h. The mean O2 cost for these athletes was 191 ± 19 ml/kg/km such that running at 21.1 km/h required an absolute V̇O2 of ~4.0 L/min and represented 94 ± 3 % V̇O2peak. We report novel data on the O2 cost of running outdoors at 21.1 km/h, which enables better modelling of possible marathon performances by elite athletes. Using the value for O2 cost measured in this study, a sub-2 hour marathon would require a 59 kg runner to sustain a V̇O2 of approximately 4.0 L/min or 67 ml/kg/min.

Effect of Running Velocity Variation on the Aerobic Cost of Running

“…Although reasonably likely to affect the anaerobic capacity of the competitors, we cannot speculate on how this might influence the CR. This study showed that small variations in pace, representing a CV of running speed from 0 to 7%, which is within the range observed in competitive races [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 8 ], do not significantly affect CR, HR or blood lactate, at least at velocities below the VT.…”

“…Given that VO 2 max has largely been unchanged in elite runners over the last half-century, and evidence is lacking on systematic changes in anaerobic capacity, only VT, fractional utilization and CR provide reasonable candidates for the continuing improvement in running records. Fractional utilization is of established importance within competitive runners [ 6 ] and is particularly high in the most elite runners [ 7 , 8 ]. The CR is thought to vary meaningfully amongst runners and is particularly low in elite runners [ 8 , 9 ].…”

“…Fractional utilization is of established importance within competitive runners [ 6 ] and is particularly high in the most elite runners [ 7 , 8 ]. The CR is thought to vary meaningfully amongst runners and is particularly low in elite runners [ 8 , 9 ]. Although inadequately documented, the traditional view is that changes in velocity are “expensive” in terms of the CR [ 10 ].…”

Technological advances in elite marathon performance

“…The sub-2-hour marathon performance by Eliud Kipchoge ( 1:59:40, hr:min:sec ) in late 2019 fascinated the public, athletes and scientists (7, 10, 12), not unlike the first sub-4-minute mile run by Sir Roger Bannister in 1954. This interest in the physiology of fast marathons is exemplified by the associated Viewpoint in The Journal of Applied Physiology (11) and ∼40 accompanying commentaries (22).…”

“…The physiological requirements for fast marathon performances, including 2-hour marathon pace (10), are well-known and include an optimal combination of exceptional , ‘lactate threshold’, and running economy (11). Although and ‘lactate threshold’ have been optimized by impressive training loads of elite athletes for many decades (11), improved running economy is thought to be deterministic in the most elite runners and is now the target of technological innovation to enhance human performance beyond current limits.…”