Predicting Competition Performance in Short Trail Running Races with Lactate Thresholds

Abstract

Trail running is a popular sport, yet factors related to performance are still not fully understood. Lactate thresholds have been thoroughly investigated in road running and correlate strongly with race performance, but to date few data are available about the value in trail running performance prediction. We examined 25 trail runners (age 31.2 ± 5.1 years, BMI 22.2 ± 1.82 kg/m2) with an initial graded exercise test for measurement of VO2max (59.5 ± 5.2 ml.kg‐1.min‐ 1) and lactate thresholds (LT): LTAET (LT aerobic) 1.03 ± 0.59 mmol/l; 11.2 ± 1.1 km/h), IAT (individual lactate threshold) (2.53 ± 0.59 mmol/l; 15.4 ± 1.6 km/h) and LT4 (lactate threshold at 4 mmol/l) (16.2 ± 1.9 km/h). All runners subsequently participated in a 31.1 km XS trail race and 9 runners in a 21 km XXS trail race. Race performance times correlated negatively with the XS trail run (LTAET: r = ‐0.65, p < 0.01; LT4: r = ‐0.87, p < 0.01; IAT: r = ‐0.84, p < 0.01) and regression analysis showed that race performance could be predicted by: LT4: ‐324.15×LT4+13195.23 (R2 = .753, F1,23 = 70.02, p < 0.01). A subgroup analysis showed higher correlations with race performance for slower than faster runners. No correlations were found with the XXS race. Lactate thresholds can be of value in predicting trail race performance and help in designing training plans.

Defining Off-road Running: A Position Statement from the Ultra Sports Science Foundation

“…As in shorter endurance events, the fraction of V O 2max sustained over extended periods of time is another determining factor [55,56,59,60]. Lactate thresholds, as a measure of fractional utilisation of V O 2max , are also important determinants in performance in off-road running (e. g. trail running) [18,61]. Running economy is another valid physiological parameter used to explain off-road running performance outcomes, especially in ultramarathon running [55,60], along with body composition [62].…”

Newer Perspectives in Lactate Threshold Estimation for Endurance Sports – A Mini-Review

“…We identified a similar study relating biomechanical variables of running with energy cost or running economy at LT mainly in runners (Joubert, Guerra, Jones, Knowles, Piper, 2020). Scheer, Vieluf, Janssen, Heitkamp (2019) examined established LT concepts in Trail runners of varying distances for the first time and evaluated LT estimation for performance prediction (Scheer et al, 2019). Otto, Reer, Holtfreter, Riepenhof, Schröder (2019) compared arm crank ergometer with treadmill wheelchair propulsion ergometer using physiological parameters at peak performance and IAT to provide optimal training prescription recommendations in wheelchair basketball players (Otto et al, 2019).…”

The Optimal Weight Carriage System for Runners: Comparison Between Handheld Water Bottles, Waist Belts, and Backpacks

“…The test started at 6.0 km h −1 , increased by 2.0 km h −1 every 3 min with capillary blood lactate (bLA) measurements (analyzed with Biosem S-line EKF Diagnostics, Barleben, Germany) obtained from capillary blood from the right ear lobe at rest, after each increase in velocity and at the end of the test as described in detail elsewhere (Scheer et al, 2018b). From the lactate values measured, the lactate curve was obtained (Ergonizer, Software für sportmedizinische Leistungsdiagnostik, K. Röcker) for determination of individual running speed for the four experimental testing conditions (Scheer et al, 2019). Testing speed was set at 80% of individual anaerobic threshold (IAT) speed as has previously been used in loaded running studies (Scheer et al, 2020b).…”