Abstract
Permissions and Reprints(opens in new window)
Abstract
Running economy (oxygen uptake or metabolic rate for running at a submaximal speed)
is one of the key determinants of distance running performance. Previous studies reported
linear relationships between oxygen uptake or metabolic rate and speed, and an invariant
cost of transport across speed. We quantified oxygen uptake, metabolic rate, and cost
of transport in 10 average and 10 sub-elite runners. We increased treadmill speed
by 0.45 m·s−1 from 1.78 m·s−1 (day 1) and 2.01 m·s−1 (day 2) during each subsequent 4-min stage until reaching a speed that elicited a
rating of perceived exertion of 15. Average runners’ oxygen uptake and metabolic rate
vs. speed relationships were best described by linear fits. In contrast, the sub-elite
runners’ relationships were best described by increasing curvilinear fits. For the
sub-elites, oxygen cost of transport and energy cost of transport increased by 12.8%
and 9.6%, respectively, from 3.58 to 5.14 m·s−1. Our results indicate that it is not possible to accurately predict metabolic rates
at race pace for sub-elite competitive runners from data collected at moderate submaximal
running speeds (2.68–3.58 m·s−1). To do so, metabolic rate should be measured at speeds that approach competitive
race pace and curvilinear fits should be used for extrapolation to race pace.
Key words
running economy -
cost of transport -
running energetics
Refers to:
Sports Medicine International Open – recently publishedInt J Sports Med 2017; 38(14): 1132-1132
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-123585
Description
The study examines the relationship between metabolic rate and running speed in distance runners.