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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Sports Med Int Open 2018; 02(01): E1-E8
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-122068
Physiology & Biochemistry
Eigentümer und Copyright ©Georg Thieme Verlag KG 2018

Does Metabolic Rate Increase Linearly with Running Speed in all Distance Runners?

Matthew E. Batliner
1   University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Integrative Physiology, Boulder, United States
,
Shalaya Kipp
1   University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Integrative Physiology, Boulder, United States
,
Alena M. Grabowski
1   University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Integrative Physiology, Boulder, United States
2   VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, Denver, United States
,
Rodger Kram
1   University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Integrative Physiology, Boulder, United States
,
William C. Byrnes
1   University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Integrative Physiology, Boulder, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 06 July 2017
revised 17 September 2017

accepted 01 October 2017

Publication Date:
17 November 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Running economy (oxygen uptake or metabolic rate for running at a submaximal speed) is one of the key determinants of distance running performance. Previous studies reported linear relationships between oxygen uptake or metabolic rate and speed, and an invariant cost of transport across speed. We quantified oxygen uptake, metabolic rate, and cost of transport in 10 average and 10 sub-elite runners. We increased treadmill speed by 0.45 m·s−1 from 1.78 m·s−1 (day 1) and 2.01 m·s−1 (day 2) during each subsequent 4-min stage until reaching a speed that elicited a rating of perceived exertion of 15. Average runners’ oxygen uptake and metabolic rate vs. speed relationships were best described by linear fits. In contrast, the sub-elite runners’ relationships were best described by increasing curvilinear fits. For the sub-elites, oxygen cost of transport and energy cost of transport increased by 12.8% and 9.6%, respectively, from 3.58 to 5.14 m·s−1. Our results indicate that it is not possible to accurately predict metabolic rates at race pace for sub-elite competitive runners from data collected at moderate submaximal running speeds (2.68–3.58 m·s−1). To do so, metabolic rate should be measured at speeds that approach competitive race pace and curvilinear fits should be used for extrapolation to race pace.

Key words

running economy - cost of transport - running energetics

Refers to:

Sports Medicine International Open – recently publishedInt J Sports Med 2017; 38(14): 1132-1132
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-123585

 

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