Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of the 10-minute submaximal
treadmill test (T10 test), a self-paced test, in determining critical speed (CS)
and predicting running performance. Specifically, we sought to identify the
percentage of T10 velocity (vT10) that runners performed in official distance
races, and to compare physiological and performance indicators between sexes. 60
recreational runners (n=34 males and n=26 females) underwent a maximum
incremental test, the novel T10 test, and ran 1200-m and 2400-m on the track.
Runners self-reported their best performance times. Generalized Linear Model was
used to compare running performances between sexes. For both males and females,
the %vT10 in 5 km, 10 km, and half-marathon races occurred at 107.5% and 106.5%,
99.9% and 100.8%, and 92.6% and 97.1%, respectively. There was no interaction
effect (p=0.520) and no main effect of sex (p=0.443). There was a main effect of
distance (p<0.001), indicating that %vT10 in the 5km race differed from that
found in the 10 km race (p=0.012), as well as in the half-marathon (p<0.001).
Our findings suggest that %vT10 values can be used to determine pace in
recreational endurance runners for race distances regardless of sex.
Keywords
exercise intensity domains - endurance performance - critical velocity - endurance running
