Summary
To determine why black distance runners currently out-perform white distance runners in South Africa, we measured maximum oxygen consumption (V O 2max), maximum workload during a V O 2max test (L max), ventilation threshold (V Thr), running economy, inspiratory ventilation (V I), tidal volume (V T), breathing frequency (f) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) in sub-elite black and white runners matched for best standard 42.2 km marathon times. During maximal treadmill testing, the black runners achieved a significantly lower (P<0.05) L max (17 km h−1, 2% grade, vs 17 km h−1, 4% grade) and V I max (6.21 vs 6.821 kg−2/3 min−1), which was the result of a lower V T (101 vs 119 ml kg−2/3 breath−1) as f max was the same in both groups. The lower V T in the black runners was probably due to their smaller body size. The V Thr occurred at a higher percentage V O 2max in black than in white runners (82.7%, SD 7.7% vs 75.6%, SD 6.2% respectively) but there were no differences in the V O 2max. However, during a 42.2-km marathon run on a treadmill, the black athletes ran at the higher percentage V O 2max (76%, SD 7.9% vs 68%, SD 5.3%), RER (0.96, SD 0.07 vs 0.91, SD 0.04) and f (56 breaths min−1, SD 11 vs 47 breaths min−1, SD 10), and at lower V T (78 ml kg−2/3 breath−1, SD 15 vs 85 ml kg−2/3 breath−1, SD 19). The combination of higher f and lower V T resulted in an identical V I. Blood lactate levels were lower in black than in white runners (1.3 mmol l−1, SD 0.6 vs 1.59 mmol l−1, SD 0.2 respectively). It appeared that the only physiological difference that may account for the superior performance of the black runners was their ability to run at a higher percentage V O 2max max during competition than white runners.
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Bosch, A.N., Goslin, B.R., Noakes, T.D. et al. Physiological differences between black and white runners during a treadmill marathon. Eur J Appl Physiol 61, 68–72 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236696
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236696