A Comparison of Pulmonary Oxygen Uptake Kinetics in Middle- and Long-Distance Runners

A. E. Kilding; E. M. Winter; M. Fysh

doi:10.1055/s-2005-865778

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2006; 27(5): 419-426
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-865778

Training & Testing

A Comparison of Pulmonary Oxygen Uptake Kinetics in Middle- and Long-Distance Runners

A. E. Kilding¹ , E. M. Winter² , M. Fysh²

¹Auckland University of Technology, Division of Sport and Recreation, Auckland, New Zealand
²The Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom

Abstract

The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) to compare the on- and off-transient pulmonary oxygen uptake (V·O₂) kinetics, in the moderate-intensity domain, of middle-distance (MD) and long-distance (LD) runners and 2) to determine the relationship between the volume of training and V·O₂ kinetics. With institutional ethics approval, 16 competitive male MD (800/1500 m) and 16 competitive male LD runners (5000/10 000 m) participated in the study. Each runner completed a series of tests to assess maximal V·O₂ (V·O_2max), ventilatory threshold (V_T), and both the on- and off-transient primary time constants (τ_on and τ_off, respectively) in response to moderate-intensity treadmill exercise. The results showed that τ_on was significantly shorter in LD (12.3 ± 0.5 s) than MD runners (16.4 ± 1.0 s, p = 0.002). During recovery from exercise, τ_off was shorter in LD than MD runners (τ_off, 24.3 ± 0.6 s vs. 26.9 ± 0.8 s, p = 0.017). The volume of training was greater in LD (66.6 ± 3.5 km · wk^-1) than MD runners (43.5 ± 3.9 km · wk^-1, p < 0.001) and was related to τ_on in both groups of runner (MD: r = - 0.63, p = 0.009; LD: r = - 0.68, p = 0.004). Collectively, the results show that MD and LD runners can be differentiated on the basis of their on- and off-transient V·O₂ kinetics, despite similarities of V·O_2max and V_T. This is attributable to the greater volume of training performed by LD runners. Further investigations into adaptation(s) to training in muscle in MD and LD runners is required to determine the functional significance of such differences and the response of V·O₂ kinetic parameters to different training stimuli.

Key words

Training volume - aerobic - primary time constant

Full Text

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A. E. Kilding

Auckland University of Technology, Division of Sport and Recreation

Private Bag 92006

Auckland, 1020

New Zealand

Phone: + 6499179999

Fax: + 64 99 17 99 60

Email: andrew.kilding@aut.ac.nz