Assessment of running velocity at maximal oxygen uptake

Summary

To investigate the different ways of assessing the running velocity at which maximal oxygen uptake$(\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}} )$ occurs, or maximal aerobic velocity (ν_{a max}), 32 well-trained runners (8 female and 24 male) were studied. The ν_{a max} and the running velocity corresponding to a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol · l⁻¹ (ν_1a4) were measured during a progressive treadmill session. Within the week preceding or following the treadmill measurement the subjects completed a Université de Montreal Track-Test (UMTT). The velocity corresponding to the last stage of this test (ν_UMTT) was slightly higher than ν_{a max}: 6.08m · s⁻¹, SD 0.41, vs 6.01 m · s⁻¹, SD 0.44 (P < 0.03) but these two velocities were strongly correlated (r = 0.92,P < 0.001). The heart rate values corresponding to these velocities were similar and well correlated (r = 0.79,P < 0.01); the corresponding blood lactate values had similar mean values: 10.5 mmol · l⁻¹, SD 2.7 vs 11.8 mmol · l⁻¹, SD 2.5, but were not correlated. Both ν_{a max} and ν_UMTT correlated well with the best performance sustained over 1500 m during the season. These results suggest that the UMTT provides a value of ν_{a max} as accurately as a treadmill measurement and that either could be used to measure the running velocity corresponding to$\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}} .$

The ν_1a4 was 86.6%, SD 2.6 of ν_{a max}; these two velocities correlated strongly. Thus, in well trained runners, ν_1a4, when measured with a well-defined procedure, corresponds to a constant fraction of ν_{a max} and depends then on$\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}}$ and the energy cost of running.