Influence of Body Mass and Height on the Energy Cost of Running in Highly Trained Middle- and Long-Distance Runners

Abstract

Previous studies about the influence of body dimensions on running economy have not compared athletes specialized in different competition events. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to assess the influence of body mass (m_b) and height (h) on the energy cost of running (Cr) in 38 highly trained male runners, specialized in either marathon (M, n = 12), long middle-distance (5000 - 10000 m, LMD, n = 14) or short middle-distance (800 - 1500 m, SMD, n = 12), and to assess possible differences in body dimensions for each event. Subjects performed a progressive maximal exercise on the treadmill to determine oxygen uptake (V˙O₂) at different submaximal velocities and maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O₂max). Cr was calculated from V˙O₂ measurements. LMD runners had significantly higher mean Cr (0.192 ± 0.007, 0.182 ± 0.009, and 0.180 ± 0.009 ml O₂ × kg^-1 × m^-1 for LMD, M and SMD, respectively) and V˙O₂max (74.1 ± 3.7, 68.5 ± 2.9 and 69.7 ± 3.4 ml × kg^-1 × min^-1). Cr correlated with h (r = -0.86, p < 0.001) and m_b (r = -0.77, p < 0.01) only in the SMD group. In conclusion, these data suggest that highly trained distance runners tend to show counterbalancing profiles of running economy and V˙O₂max (the higher Cr, the higher V˙O₂max and vice versa), and that anthropometric characteristics related with good performance are different in long-distance and middle-distance events.

Body dimensions - running economy - maximal oxygen uptake - efficiency

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