The Relationship between the Lactate Turnpoint and the Time at V·O_2max during a Constant Velocity Run to Exhaustion

Abstract

The present investigation examined the relationship between the running velocity at the lactate turnpoint (vLTP) and the time at which V·O_2max can be sustained (TV·O_2max) during a continuous run to exhaustion at the minimal running velocity that elicits V·O_2max (vV·O_2max). Seven moderately-trained endurance runners undertook three tests on a treadmill. The first test was to determine vV·O_2max; the second to determine the time to exhaustion during a constant velocity run at vV·O_2max (T_lim vV·O_2max) and TV·O_2max; and the third to determine the vLTP. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to determine the association between the vLTP (%vV·O_2max; i.e. the relative vLTP) and TV·O_2max, and between other selected physiological variables. Correlations between the relative vLTP and TV·O_2max, expressed as a percentage of T_lim vV·O_2max (the relative TV·O_2max; r = 0.82), and between TV·O_2max and T_lim vV·O_2max (r = 0.89), were significant at the p < 0.05 level. All other correlations between selected measured physiological variables were found to be statistically insignificant. The main finding of this present study is that the relative vLTP demonstrated a significant positive correlation with the relative TV·O_2max. The physiological mechanism by which the lactate turnpoint may influence the relative TV·O_2max has not been elucidated, but may be due to a combination of decreasing the time to attain V·O_2max and increasing T_lim vV·O_2max. The present investigation has demonstrated that the lactate turnpoint may influence the relative time at which V·O_2max can be sustained during a continuous run to exhaustion at vV·O_2max, although further research is required to substantiate these findings.

Key words

Maximal oxygen uptake - running - time to exhaustion - training

References

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