Relationship between maximal oxygen uptake and oxygen uptake attained during treadmill middle-distance running

Abstract

Traditionally, it has been assumed that during middle-distance running oxygen uptake (VO2) reaches its maximal value (VO2max) providing the event is of a sufficient duration; however, this assumption is largely based on observations in individuals with a relatively low VO2max. The aim of this study was to determine whether VO2max is related to the VO2 attained (i.e. VO2peak) during middle-distance running on a treadmill. Fifteen well-trained male runners (age 23.3 +/- 3.8 years, height 1.80 +/- 0.10 m, body mass 76.9 +/- 10.6 kg) volunteered to participate in the study. The participants undertook two 800-m trials to examine the reproducibility of the VO2 response. These two trials, together with a progressive test to determine VO2max, were completed in a randomized order. Oxygen uptake was determined throughout each test using 15-s Douglas bag collections. Following the application of a 30-s rolling average, the highest VO2 during the progressive test (i.e. VO2max) was compared with the highest VO2 during the 800-m trials (i.e. VO2peak) to examine the relationship between VO2max and the VO2 attained in the 800-m trials. For the 15 runners, VO2max was 58.9 +/- 7.1 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1). Two groups were formed using a median split based on VO2max. For the high and low VO2max groups, VO2max was 65.7 +/- 3.0 and 52.4 +/- 1.8 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) respectively. The limits of agreement (95%) for test-retest reproducibility for the VO2 attained during the 800-m trials were +/- 3.5 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) for a VO2peak of 50.6 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) (the mean VO2peak for the low VO2max group) and +/- 2.3 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) for a VO2peak of 59.0 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) (the mean VO2peak for the high VO2max group), with a bias in VO2peak between the 800-m runs (i.e. the mean difference) of 1.2 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1). The VO2peak for the 800-m runs was 54.8 +/- 4.9 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) for all 15 runners. For the high and low VO2max groups, VO2peak was 59.0 +/- 3.3 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) (i.e. 90% VO2max) and 50.6 +/- 2.0 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) (i.e. 97% VO2max) respectively. The negative relationship (-0.77) between VO2max and % VO2max attained for all 15 runners was significant (P = 0.001). These results demonstrate that (i) reproducibility is good and (ii) that VO2max is related to the %VO2max achieved, with participants with a higher VO2max achieving a lower %VO2max in an 800-m trial on a treadmill.

Influence of test duration on oxygen uptake attained during treadmill running

“…We have, however, observed a similar 2 O V  response even when these methodological concerns have been addressed (Draper et al, 2003;Draper & Wood, 2005a;Draper & Wood, 2005b;James et al, 2007b;Sandals et al, 2006). During genuine square wave transitions at a speed that led to exhaustion in approximately two minutes (the approximate duration of an 800-m run), we have consistently shown  VO 2 to plateau some way below attained e.g., (Scheuermann & Barstow, 2003;Wilkerson et al, 2004a).…”

“…A whole number of breaths was always collected, and the actual period was never greater than 20 s or less than 10 s. Repeat trials using this technique have shown good reliability (James et al, 2007b). Repeat 800-m trials resulted in a bias in the .…”

“…and specialist event of the athlete appears to influence the  VO 2 attained during treadmill running (Draper et al, 2007;James et al, 2007b;James et al, 2007a;Sandals et al, 2006), although a shortfall in  VO 2 attained still remained. To what extent the  VO 2 attained is a function of event duration remains an interesting question.…”

“…Spencer et al (Spencer & Gastin, 1996) investigated the  VO 2 attained during constant speed 800-and 1500-m running using well-trained middle-distance runners, and found that  VO 2 reached a plateau at ~ 90 and ~ 94%  VO 2max for the 800-and 1500-m runs, respectively. Spencer and Gastin (Spencer & Gastin, 2001) performed a second similar study in which the attained (James et al, 2007b).…”

VO2 Attained During Treadmill Running: The Influence of a Specialist (400-m or 800-m) Event

“…19,24 A whole number of breaths was always collected, so the actual period was never greater than 20 s or less than 10 s. attained between the 400-m and 800-m event specialists for the 400-m constant speed run. attained of 93.1 ± 2.0% and 85.7 ± 3.0% for the 400-m and 800-m event specialists, respectively.…”