Abstract
The aim of the present study was to examine the role of the classical physiological model of endurance running performance – maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), %VO2max at ventilatory thresholds (VT), work economy, lactate levels, and body composition on the prediction of short trail running performance. Eleven male trail runners (age 36.1 ± 6.5 years, sport experience 6.6 ± 3.8 years, and mean ± standard deviation) were examined for fat mass and skeletal muscle mass, and performed a graded exercise test to measure VO2max, vVO2max, and VT. Also, they participated in a short 27 km trail run with a positive elevation of +1750 m. Age, years of training and skeletal muscle mass did not correlate with race time (P > 0.05), and fat mass and body mass index (BMI) showed significant correlations with race time (P < 0.05). Heart rate, velocity and VT1 and VT2 were not associated with race time (P > 0.05). Only vVO2max (P = 0.005) and VO2max (P = 0.007) is correlated to race time. Multiple regression models for VO2max accounted for 57% of the total variance. The vVO2max model variable accounted for 60% and the fat mass model for 59.5%. Finally, the combined VO2max and fat mass model explained 83.9% of the total variance (P < 0.05 in all models). The equation for this model is “race time (min) = 203.9956−1.9001 × VO2max + 10.2816 × Fat mass%” (R2 = 0.839, SEE = 11.1 min, and P = 0.0007). The classical variable VO2max together with fat mass percent are two strong predictors for short trail running performance.
Description
This study examines how body composition affects performance in short trail running races.