Peak treadmill running velocity during the VO₂ max test predicts running performance

Abstract

Twenty specialist marathon runners and 23 specialist ultra‐marathon runners underwent maximal exercise testing to determine the relative value of maximum oxygen consumption (VO₂max), peak treadmill running velocity, running velocity at the lactate turnpoint, VO₂ at 16 km h^‐1, % VO₂max at 16 km h^‐1, and running time in other races, for predicting performance in races of 10–90 km. Race time at 10 or 21.1 km was the best predictor of performance at 42.2 km in specialist marathon runners and at 42.2 and 90 km in specialist ultra‐marathon runners (r=0.91–0.97). Peak treadmill running velocity was the best laboratory‐measured predictor of performance (r = ‐ 0.88—0.94) at all distances in ultra‐marathon specialists and at all distances except 42.2 km in marathon specialists. Other predictive variables were running velocity at the lactate turnpoint (r= —0.80—0.92); % VO₂max at 16 km h^‐1 (r=0.76–0.90) and VO₂max (r=0.55—0.86). Peak blood lactate concentrations (r=0.68–0.71) and VO₂ at 16 km h^‐1 (r=0.10–0.61) were less good predictors.

These data indicate: (i) that in groups of trained long distance runners, the physiological factors that determine success in races of 10–90 km are the same; thus there may not be variables that predict success uniquely in either 10 km, marathon or ultra‐marathon runners, and (ii) that peak treadmill running velocity is at least as good a predictor of running performance as is the lactate turnpoint. Factors that determine the peak treadmill running velocity are not known but are not likely to be related to maximum rates of muscle oxygen utilization.

Keywords:

• VO₂max
• lactate turnpoint
• peak treadmill velocity
• running performance
• marathon
• ultra‐marathon

Notes

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