Running economy

About: Running economy is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 987 publications have been published within this topic receiving 41586 citations.

Limiting factors for maximum oxygen uptake and determinants of endurance performance.

Abstract: BASSETT, D. R., JR. and E. T. HOWLEY. Limiting factors for maximum oxygen uptake and determinants of endurance performance. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 70 - 84, 2000. In the exercising human, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) is limited by the ability of the cardiorespiratory system to deliver oxygen to the exercising muscles. This is shown by three major lines of evidence: 1) when oxygen delivery is altered (by blood doping, hypoxia, or beta-blockade), VO2max changes accordingly; 2) the increase in VO2max with training results primarily from an increase in maximal cardiac output (not an increase in the a-v# O2 difference); and 3) when a small muscle mass is overperfused during exercise, it has an extremely high capacity for consuming oxygen. Thus, O2 delivery, not skeletal muscle O2 extraction, is viewed as the primary limiting factor for VO2max in exercising humans. Metabolic adaptations in skeletal muscle are, however, critical for improving submaximal endurance performance. Endurance training causes an increase in mitochondrial enzyme activities, which improves performance by enhancing fat oxidation and decreasing lactic acid accumulation at a given VO2 .VO2max is an important variable that sets the upper limit for endurance performance (an athlete cannot operate above 100% VO2max. for extended periods). Running economy and fractional utilization of VO2max also affect endurance performance. The speed at lactate threshold (LT) integrates all three of these variables and is the best physiological predictor of distance running performance.

Aerobic high-intensity intervals improve VO2max more than moderate training.

Abstract: HELGERUD, J., K. HKYDAL, E. WANG, T. KARLSEN, P. BERG, M. BJERKAAS, T. SIMONSEN, C. HELGESEN, N. HJORTH, R. BACH, and J. HOFF. Aerobic High-Intensity Intervals Improve VO2max More Than Moderate Training. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 665-671, 2007. Purpose: The present study compared the effects of aerobic endurance training at different intensities and with different methods matched for total work and frequency. Responses in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), stroke volume of the heart (SV), blood volume, lactate threshold (LT), and running economy (CR) were examined. Methods: Forty healthy, nonsmoking, moderately trained male subjects were randomly assigned to one of four groups:1) long slow distance (70% maximal heart rate; HRmax); 2) lactate threshold (85% HRmax); 3) 15/15 interval running (15 s of running at 90-95% HRmax followed by 15 s of active resting at 70% HRmax); and 4) 4 4 min of interval running (4 min of running at 90-95% HRmax followed by 3 min of active restingat 70% HRmax). All four training protocols resulted in similar total oxygen consumption and were performed 3 dIwk j1 for 8 wk. Results: High-intensity aerobic interval training resulted in significantly increased VO2max compared with long slow distanceandlactate-thresholdtrainingintensities(P G 0.01). The percentage increases for the 15/15 and 4 4 min groups were 5.5 and 7.2%, respectively, reflecting increases in VO2max from 60.5 to 64.4 mLIkg j1 Imin j1 and 55.5 to 60.4 mLIkg j1 Imin j1 . SV increased significantly by approximately 10% after interval training (P G 0.05). Conclusions: High-aerobic intensity endurance interval training is significantly more effective than performing the same total work at either lactate threshold or at 70% HRmax, in improving VO2max. The changes in VO2max correspond with changes in SV, indicating a close link between the two. Key Words: LACTATE THRESHOLD, AEROBIC POWER, 4 4-MIN INTERVALS, 15/15 TRAINING, STROKE VOLUME, BLOOD VOLUME

Aerobic endurance training improves soccer performance

Abstract: HELGERUD, J., L. C. ENGEN, U. WISLOFF, and J. HOFF. Aerobic endurance training improves soccer performance.Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 33, No. 11, 2001, pp. 1925–1931. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to study the effects of aerobic training on performance during soccer match and soccer specific tests. Methods: Nineteen male elite junior soccer players, age 18.1 0.8 yr, randomly assigned to the training group (N 9) and the control group (N 10) participated in the study. The specific aerobic training consisted of interval training, four times 4 min at 90 –95% of maximal heart rate, with a 3-min jog in between, twice per week for 8 wk. Players were monitored by video during two matches, one before and one after training. Results: In the training group: a) maximal oxygen uptake (V u O2max) increased from 58.1 4.5 mL·kg 1 ·min 1 to 64.3 3.9 mL·kg 1 ·min 1 (P 0.01); b) lactate threshold improved from 47.8 5.3 mL·kg 1 ·min 1 to 55.4 4.1 mL·kg 1 ·min 1 (P 0.01); c) running economy was also improved by 6.7% (P 0.05); d) distance covered during a match increased by 20% in the training group (P 0.01); e) number of sprints increased by 100% (P 0.01); f) number of involvements with the ball increased by 24% (P 0.05); g) the average work intensity during a soccer match, measured as percent of maximal heart rate, was enhanced from 82.7 3.4% to 85.6 3.1% (P 0.05); and h) no changes were found in maximal vertical jumping height, strength, speed, kicking velocity, kicking precision, or quality of passes after the training period. The control group showed no changes in any of the tested parameters. Conclusion: Enhanced aerobic endurance in soccer players improved soccer performance by increasing the distance covered, enhancing work intensity, and increasing the number of sprints and involvements with the ball during a match. Key Words: V u O2max, LACTATE THRESHOLD, RUNNING ECONOMY, SKILL

A 1% treadmill grade most accurately reflects the energetic cost of outdoor running

Abstract: When running indoors on a treadmill, the lack of air resistance results in a lower energy cost compared with running outdoors at the same velocity. A slight incline of the treadmill gradient can be used to increase the energy cost in compensation. The aim of this study was to determine the treadmill gradient that most accurately reflects the energy cost of outdoor running. Nine trained male runners, thoroughly habituated to treadmill running, ran for 6 min at six different velocities (2.92, 3.33, 3.75, 4.17, 4.58 and 5.0 m s‐1) with 6 min recovery between runs. This routine was repeated six times, five times on a treadmill set at different grades (0%, 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%) and once outdoors along a level road. Duplicate collections of expired air were taken during the final 2 min of each run to determine oxygen consumption. The repeatability of the methodology was confirmed by high correlations (r = 0.99) and non‐significant differences between the duplicate expired air collections and between the repeated runs...

Factors Affecting Running Economy in Trained Distance Runners

Abstract: velocity of submaximal running, and is determined by measuring the steady-state consumption of oxygen ( ˙ VO2) and the respiratory exchange ratio. Taking body mass (BM) into consideration, runners with good RE use less energy and therefore less oxygen than runners with poor RE at the same velocity. There is a strong association between RE and distance running performance, with RE being a better predictor of performance than maximal oxygen uptake ( ˙ VO2max) in elite runners