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Applied Physiology of Marathon Running

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Summary

Performance in marathon running is influenced by a variety of factors, most of which are of a physiological nature. Accordingly, the marathon runner must rely to a large extent on a high aerobic capacity. But great variations in maximal oxygen uptake V̇O2 max have been observed among runners with a similar performance capacity, indicating complementary factors are of importance for performance. The oxygen cost of running or the running economy (expressed, e.g. as V̇O2 15 at 15 km/h) as well as the fractional utilisation of V̇O2 max max at marathon race pace %V̇O2 ma × V̇O2 ma −1) [where Ma = mean marathon velocity] are additional factors which are known to affect the performance capacity. Together V̇O2 max, V̇O2 15 and %V̇O2 ma × V̇O2 ma −1 can almost entirely explain the variation in marathon performance. To a similar degree, these variables have also been found to explain the variations in the ‘anaerobic threshold’. This factor, which is closely related to the metabolic response to increasing exercise intensities, is the single variable that has the highest predictive power for marathon performance. But a major limiting factor to marathon performance is probably the choice of fuels for the exercising muscles, which factor is related to the %V̇O2 ma × V̇O2 ma −1. Present indications are that marathon runners, compared with normal individuals, have a higher turnover rate in fat metabolism at given high exercise intensities expressed both in absolute (m/sec) and relative %V̇O2 max terms. The selection of fat for oxidation by the muscles is important since the stores of the most efficient fuel, the carbohydrates, are limited. The large amount of endurance training done by marathon runners is probably responsible for similar metabolic adaptations, which contribute to a delayed onset of fatigue and raise the %V̇O2 ma × V̇O2 ma −1. There is probably an upper limit in training kilometrage above which there are no improvements in the fractional utilisation of V̇O2 max at the marathon race pace. The influence of training on V̇O2 max and, to some extent, on the running economy appears, however, to be limited by genetic factors.

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  1. Human Studies Department, National Defense Research Institute, FOA 542, Box 273 22, S-102 54, Stockholm, Sweden

    Bertil Sjodin &  Jan Svedenhag

  2. Department of Physiology III, Karolinska Institute, Lindingôvâgen 1, S-114 33, Stockholm, Sweden

    Bertil Sjodin &  Jan Svedenhag

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  1. Bertil Sjodin
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Sjodin, B., Svedenhag, J. Applied Physiology of Marathon Running. Sports Medicine 2, 83–99 (1985). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-198502020-00002

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