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Int J Sports Med 1994; 15(6): 305-310
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1021065
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Body-Mass-Modified Running Economy and Step Length in Elite Male Middle- and Long-Distance Runners

J. Svedenhag1 , 2 , B. Sjödin3
  • 1Department of Clinical Physiology at Huddinge University Hospital, Karolinska Institute
  • 2Department of Physiology III, Karolinska Institute
  • 3National Defence Research Establishment, Stockholm, Sweden
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Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

To minimize the influence of body mass on oxygen uptake (V̇O2) during running, submaximal and maximal V̇O2 should preferentially be expressed as ml · kg-0.75 · min-1. In this study, the levels of such body-mass-modified running economy were investigated at different velocities in elite runners and related to step lengths and anthropometric measures. Twenty-six Swedish National Team middle- and long-distance runners performed submaximal (4 velocities) and maximal treadmill tests. In 17 runners repeated (2-4) tests were performed within 6 months. The maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max; 214 vs 202 ml · kg-0.75 · min-1) and running velocity at 4 mmol · 1-1 blood lactate were higher in the long- (n = 12) than in the middle-distance group (n = 14). The oxygen uptake at 15 km · h-1 (V̇O2 15) was lower (129 vs 138 ml · kg-0.75 · min-1, p<0.01) and the V̇O2/velocity slope higher in the long-distance runners, with similar V̇O2 18 in the two groups. Step lengths at 18 (168 vs 173 cm) and 15 km · h-1 did not differ significantly between the groups, but the increase in step length per km · h-1 velocity raise was greater in the middle-distance runners. Step lengths at these velocities were positively related to body mass and stature, negatively to relative leg length. Stature and leg length were greater in runners displaying low V̇O2 15, whereas no corresponding difference was seen for V̇O2 18. The figures for running economy at 15 and 18 km · h-1 were poorly related to the concomitantly determined step lengths at the respective velocities. In conclusion, the present results demonstrate greater running economy slope but lesser step length slope in elite long- as compared to middle-distance runners. Furthermore, even body-mass-modified running economy seems to be poorly related to the step length.

Key words

Submaximal oxygen uptake - maximal oxygen uptake - body mass - blood lactate - leg length - scaling factor