Physiological correlates with endurance running performance in trained adolescents

Almarwaey, Omar Ali, Jones, Andrew M. and Tolfrey, Keith (2003) Physiological correlates with endurance running performance in trained adolescents. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 35 (3). pp. 480-487. ISSN 0195-9131

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Abstract

Purpose: To examine the relationship between competitive 800-m and 1500-m performance times and a number of physiological variables in a group of endurance-trained, adolescent runners. Methods: Twenty-three boys and 17 girls volunteered to participate in the study. Track-based, running performance times were available for 18 boys and 14 girls for the 800 m, and 16 boys and 13 girls for the 1500 m. The relationships between these times and the following physiological variables were determined: peak VO2, running economy (RE), estimated running speed at peak VO2 (VO2 peak), peak and mean anaerobic power, and fixed [BLa-] at 2.0, 2.5, and 4.0 mmol·L-1. Results: RE and VO2peak were significant independent variables for the boys’ 800 m (r = 0.62 and -0.62, P < 0.01). For the girls, once chronological age was partialled out, none of the measured variables were significantly related to 800-m performance. For the 1500-m event, peak VO2, VO2peak, and the running speed at 2.5 mmol·L-1 (v2.5) were significant independent variables in the boys (r = -0.43, -0.39, and -0.53, P < 0.05) and girls (r = -0.50, -0.61, and -0.54, P < 0.05). In addition, the VO2 at 2.5 mmol·L-1 (VO22.5) was related to the 1500-m time in the girls (r = -0.54, P < 0.05). Conclusion: The physiological variables that were most strongly correlated with middle-distance running performance were v2.5 and the VO2peak. To a lesser extent peak VO2 may also play a role although it is understood that its contribution may be accounted by VO2peak.