The relationship between physiological measurements and cross-country running performance

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Authors
Lambert, Gerald Patrick
Advisor
Costill, David L.
Issue Date
1990
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (M.A.)
Department
Human Performance Laboratory
Other Identifiers
Abstract

Seven highly trained male collegiate distance runners were studied throughout a competitive cross-country season. Common laboratory and field measures were used to assess physiological adaptation and performance capacity. The subjects were tested pre-, mid-, and post-season for maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), running economy (RE), heart rate at 268 m-min…1 (HR268), fractional utilization of the aerobic capacity (%VO2max), fraction utilization of the maximal heart rate (%HRmax), ventilatory threshold (VT), and time to exhaustion (TTE). Prior to each scheduled competition submaximal hear rate (HR) and submaximal blood lactate accumulation (bLa) were determined from a one-mile run on an indoor track. Five subjects ran at 5 min 30 sec per mile pace and two ran at a 6 min per mile pace (mean intensity = 83.14 + 4.44% VO2max). VO2max, RE, % VO2max, %HRmax and TTE all significantly improved over the season (p < 0.05). VT and HR268 remained unchanged. % VO2max and %HRmax exhibited the highest correlations to performance within a given competition (range r = .525 to .722 and .571 to .844, respectively). HR and bLa did not change during the season. These results suggest: 1) % VO2max and %HRmax are the best predictors of cross-country running performance among the variables measured whereas 2) field trials employing single HR and single bLa measurements are not indicators of endurance running performance in highly trained distance runners.

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