Relationships of the anaerobic threshold with the 5 km, 10 km, and 10 mile races

Summary

The purpose of present study was to assess the relationship between anaerobic threshold (AT) and performances in three different distance races (i.e., 5 km, 10 km, and 10 mile). AT, \(\dot V\)O₂ max, and related parameters for 17 young endurance runners aged 16–18 years tested on a treadmill with a discontinuous method. The determination of AT was based upon both gas exchange and blood lactate methods. Performances in the distance races were measured within nearly the same month as the time of experiment. Mean AT-\(\dot V\)O₂ was 51.0 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ (2.837 l·min⁻¹), while \(\dot V\)O₂ max averaged 64.1 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ (3.568 l·min⁻¹). AT-HR and %AT (AT-\(\dot V\)O₂/\(\dot V\)O₂ max) were 174.7 beats·min⁻¹ and 79.6%, respectively. The correlations between \(\dot V\)O₂ max (ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) and performances in the three distance races were not high (r=−0.645, r=−0.674, r=−0.574), while those between AT-\(\dot V\)O₂ and performances was r=−0.945, r=−0.839, and r=−0.835, respectively. The latter results indicate that AT-\(\dot V\)O₂ alone would account for 83.9%, 70.4%, and 69.7% of the variance in the 5 km, 10 km, and 10 mile performances, respectively. Since r=−0.945 (5 km versus AT-\(\dot V\)O₂) is significantly different from r=−0.645 (5 km versus \(\dot V\)O₂ max), the 5 km performance appears to be more related to AT-\(\dot V\)O₂ than VO₂ max. It is concluded that individual variance in the middle and long distance races (particularly the 5 km race) is better accounted for by the variance in AT-\(\dot V\)O₂ expressed as milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight than by differences in \(\dot V\)O₂ max.