Støa, E. Helgerud, J. Rønnestad, B. Hansen, J. Ellefsen, S. Støren, Ø.
Factors affecting running speed on lactic acid threshold (lactate threshold) for male and female runners at different performance levels.
The main purpose of the study was to find the relationship between lactic acid threshold or lactate threshold (LT, in % of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max)) and running speed at LT.
A second aim was to investigate to what extent VO2max, the oxygen cost of running (running economy), and maximal aerobic speed (MAS=VO2max/running economy) determine running speed at LT.
Our third aim was to investigate any differences between LT as % of VO2max and running speed at LT between elite, national and recreational runners and to study any gender differences.
37 men and 38 women participated in the study. They were tested on VO2max, LT, running speed at LT, and running economy.
They had an average VO2max of 63 ml/kgxmin and an average LT running speed of 13.6 km/h.
LT as % of VO2max did not determine the running speed of LT. However, the product of MAS and LT strongly determined LT running speed. There were no differences between elite, national or recreational runners with respect to LT, but female runners had higher LT than male runners. Female runners at the same relative performance level as men had lower VO2max and running speed at LT, but better running economy.
Our results show that training to improve running speed at LT should focus on increasing VO2max and improving running economy. To achieve such improvements, we would recommend high-intensity aerobic interval training (e.g. 4x4min) to improve VO2max and maximal strength training in squats (4x4 reps) to improve running economy.
Since running speed at LT is determined by MAS and not LT as a % of VO2max, we suggest testing VO2max and running economy rather than LT to assess training progress among competitive runners.
Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.585267/full
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