Energy cost of running in similarly trained men and women

Summary

The energy demand of running on a treadmill was studied in different groups of trained athletes of both sexes. We have not found any significant differences in the net energy cost (C) during running (expressed in J·kg⁻¹·m⁻¹) between similarly trained groups of men and women. For men and women respectively in adult middle distance runnersC=3.57±0.15 and 3.65±0.20, in adult long-distance runnersC=3.63±0.18 and 3.70±0.21, in adult canoeistsC=3.82±0.34 and 3.80±0.24, in young middle-distance runnersC=3.84±0.18 and 3.78±0.26 and in young long-distance runnersC=3.85±0.12 and 3.80±0.24. This similarity may be explained by the similar training states of both sexes, resulting from the intense training which did not differ in its relative intensity and frequency between the groups of men and women. A negative relationship was found between the energy cost of running and maximal oxygen uptake$(\dot V_{O_{2max} } )$ expressed relative to body weight (for menr=−0.471,p<0.001; for womenr=−0.589,p<0.001). In contrast, no significant relationship was found in either sex between the energy cost of running and$\dot V_{O_{2max} }$. We conclude therefore that differences in sports performance between similarly trained men and women are related to differences in$\dot V_{O_{2max} } \cdot kg^{ - 1}$. The evaluation ofC as an additional characteristic during laboratory tests may help us to ascertain, along with other parameters, not only the effectiveness of the training procedure, but also to evaluate the technique performed.