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Int J Sports Med 2000; 21(2): 96-101
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-8867
Physiology and Biochemistry
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ·New York

Comparison of Physiological Strain and Muscular Performance of Athletes During Two Intermittent Running Exercises at the Velocity Associated with V˙O2max

 T. Vourimaa1 ,  T. Vasankari1, 2 ,  H. Rusko3
  • 1 Finnish Sports Institute, Vierumäki, Finland
  • 2 Paavo Nurmi Center, Sports Medical Research Unit and Department of Physiology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
  • 3 KIHU-Research Institute for Olympic Sports, Jyväskylä, Finland
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

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The purpose of this study was to examine physiological strain and muscular performance responses of well trained athletes during two intermittent running exercise protocols at the velocity associated with V˙O2max. Ten national level middle-distance runners (V˙O2max 69.4 ± 5.1; mean ± SD) performed in random order two 28 min treadmill running exercises: 14 bouts of 60 s runs with 60 s rest (IR60) and 7 bouts of 120 s runs with120 s rest between each run (IR120). During IR120 peak oxygen uptake (12 %), peak heart rate (3 %) and peak blood lactate (79 %) were significantly higher than during IR60 (P < 0.001) and almost the same as in the V˙O2max test. In IR120 the relative aerobic energy release calculated on the basis of the accumulated oxygen deficit during the running bouts was significantly higher than in IR60 (81.5 ± 2.7 vs. 70.2 ± 2.6 %, P < 0.001) likewise the sum oxygen consumption during the 14 min running (P < 0.001), while during the 14 min recovery it was as much lower (P < 0.001). There were no changes either during or between the IR60 and IR120 protocols with regard to the muscular performance parameters, stride length or height of maximal vertical jumps. In conclusion, during intermittent running at the velocity associated with V˙O2max doubling the duration of work and rest bouts from 60 s to 120 s increased the physiological strain of well trained athletes to the same level as at exhaustion in the V˙O2max test but the muscular performance variables were not influenced.

Key words:

Trained runners - interval running - accumulated oxygen deficit - blood lactate - vertical jump height

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Timo Vuorimaa

Finnish Sports Institute

FIN-19120 Vierumäki

Finland

Phone: + 358 (3) 84241004

Fax: + 358 (3) 84241208

Email: timo.vuorimaa@vierumaki.fi