Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 1989; 10(3): 207-211
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1024902
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Prediction of Lactate Threshold and Fixed Blood Lactate Concentrations from 3200-m Time Trial Running Performance in Untrained Females*

J. Weltman, R. Seip, S. Levine, D. Snead, A. Rogol, A. Weltman
  • Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, and Exercise Physiology Laboratory Curry School of Education, Memorial Gymnasium University of Virginia, Charlottesville
* Supported in part by NIH grant # R01 HD20465-03.
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

Also available at
  PDF Download  Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The present study examined the effectiveness of a 3200-m time trial run for predicting V̇O2 and running velocity at lactate threshold (LT), and fixed blood lactate concentrations (FBLC) of 2.0,2.5, and 4.0 mM and peak in untrained women. Thirty-nine female subjects completed a V̇O2peak/LT test and a 3200-m time trial run. Twenty-eight subjects were randomly assigned to a validation sample and the remaining subjects were used for cross-validation purposes. In the validation sample, V̇O2 measurements at LT, FBLC of 2.0, 2.5, 4.0 mM, and peak were 22.5, 29.2, 31.2, 36.5, and 38.5 ml/kg·min-1, respectively. Velocities at LT, FBLC of 2.0, 2.5, 4.0 mM, and peak were 107.1, 129.7, 136.6, 155.1, and 163.2 m/min, respectively. Regression analysis in the validation group revealed that the 3200-m time trial was an accurate predictor of velocities at LT, FBLC of 2.0, 2.5, 4.0 mM, and peak with correlations of r = 0.70, r = 0.84, r = 0.85, r = 0.87, and r = 0.95, respectively, and standard errrors of estimate ranging from + 9.5 m/min (for velocity peak) to + 13.7 m/min (velocity LT). Vor V̇O2 prediction, correlations ranged from r=0.61 (3200-m time vs V̇O2 LT) to r = 0.77 (3200-m time vs V̇O2 peak) with the standard errors of estimate ranging from±4.18 (V̇O2 2.0 mM) to±4.87 ml/kg·min-1 (V̇O2 4.0 mM). Results for the cross-validation subjects revealed that, for both velocity and V̇O2, correlations between actual and predicted values were high, ranging from r = 0.75 (V̇O2 peak) to r = 0.87 (velocity 4.0 mM) and that SE scores were similar to the SEE observed for the validation group. It was concluded that in untrained women performance on a 3200-m time trial accurately predicts both V̇O2 and velocity at LT, FBLC of 2.0, 2.5, 4.0 mM, and peak. The present findings have application for exercise prescription in untrained women.

Key words

V̇O2max - anaerobic threshold - blood lactate accumulation - lactate threshold