Physiologic Comparison of Competitive Racewalking and Running

Abstract

Eight competitive racewalkers were studied to determine a) the speed where running and racewalking become equally efficient, b) if, at a similar V̇O₂, the physiologic responses to submaximal exercise differ between running and race-walking, and c) if V̇O₂ max can be attained during race-walking. The speed at which running and racewalking elicited the same V̇O₂ (approximately 30 ml ·kg^-1·min^-1) was between 8 and 9 km·h^-1. Racewalking was more efficient at slower speeds, and running was more efficient at faster velocities. When running and racewalking were compared at similar oxygen consumptions, heart rate, ventilation, perceived exertion, and respiratory exchange ratio responses were identical. During maximal exercise, running and race-walking resulted in a similar V̇O₂ max (60.4 ±1.3 vs. 58.1 ± 1.5 ml·kg^-1·min^-1), heart rate (193 ± 4 vs. 188 ± 4 bpm), ventilation (130.6 ± 5.9 vs. 126.3 ± 6.6 l·min^-1), and post-exercise blood lactic acid concentration (9.8 ± 0.6 vs. 9.6 ± 0.7 mM). These results indicate that the speed where racewalking and running become equally efficient is similar to the crossover speed for conventional walking and running. Cardiovascular, respiratory, and perceptual responses during running and racewalking are the same during maximal exercise and during submaximal exercise at the same V̇O₂.

Key words

racewalking - running - efficiency - perceived exertion - V̇O₂ max