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The V̇O2 response for an exhaustive treadmill run at 800-m pace: a breath-by-breath analysis

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Abstract

Recent research in which data were averaged over 10 or 30 s suggests that the V̇O2 response of aerobically fit individuals plateaus below V̇O2 max in an exhaustive square-wave run lasting ~2 min. To investigate this phenomenon we examined the breath-by-breath V̇O2 response of trained runners to an exhaustive treadmill run at 800 m pace. Eight male competitive runners completed two treadmill tests on separate days: a ramp test to exhaustion and an exhaustive square-wave run at 800-m pace. For the ramp test, the breath-by-breath data were smoothed with a 15-s moving average and the highest of the smoothed values was taken as V̇O2 peak [mean (SD): 68.9 (5.6) ml kg−1 min−1]. For the square-wave, the breath-by-breath data were interpolated to give one value per second and modelled using a monoexponential function. Following a delay of 11.2 (1.5) s, V̇O2 increased quickly [phase-2 time constant of 10.7 (2.7) s] towards an asymptote that represented just 85 (6)% of V̇O2 peak from the ramp test. Expressed in ml kg−1 min−1, this asymptote was independent of V̇O2 peak (r=0.04, P=0.94). However, as a percentage of V̇O2 peak it was negatively correlated with V̇O2 peak itself (r=−0.96, P<0.001). It is concluded that in an exhaustive square-wave treadmill run lasting ~2 min the V̇O2 of aerobically fit runners increases quickly to plateau at a level that is lower than, but independent of, V̇O2max

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a University College Chichester Research Studentship. These experiments comply with the current laws of the United Kingdom.

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  1. School of Sport and Leisure, University of Gloucestershire, Oxstalls Campus, Oxstalls Lane, Gloucester, GL2 9HW, UK

    S. B. Draper & D. M. Wood

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  1. S. B. Draper
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  2. D. M. Wood
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Correspondence to S. B. Draper.

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Draper, S.B., Wood, D.M. The V̇O2 response for an exhaustive treadmill run at 800-m pace: a breath-by-breath analysis. Eur J Appl Physiol 93, 381–389 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-004-1278-z

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