Lactate and glucose minimum speeds and running performance

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Lactate minimum speed (LMS) is a key indicator of endurance performance in runners.
• Assessing LMS typically involves laboratory-based lactate minimum tests (LMT).
• The validity of alternative biomarkers like glucose minimum speed (GMS) for predicting LMS requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the validity of glucose minimum speed (GMS) as a predictor of lactate minimum speed (LMS) during running.
• To examine the relationship between GMS, LMS, and actual endurance running performance.
• To determine if GMS can serve as a viable alternative to LMS assessment.

Main Methods:

• Eight trained male runners completed a 10-km road race and a track lactate minimum test (LMT).
• The LMT involved a 0.5-km sprint followed by six 800m repeats at high intensity.
• Blood lactate and glucose concentrations were measured during the LMT to determine LMS and GMS.

Main Results:

• Significant correlations were observed between LMS and GMS (r = 0.72, p < 0.05) and LMS and 10-km performance (r = 0.83, p < 0.05).
• No significant correlation was found between GMS and 10-km performance (r = 0.49, p > 0.05).
• No significant differences were found between LMS (4.75 m/s), GMS (4.73 m/s), and 10-km mean speed (4.79 m/s).

Conclusions:

• Glucose minimum speed (GMS) is a valid predictor of lactate minimum speed (LMS) during track-based LMT.
• LMS demonstrates a strong relationship with endurance running performance, as evidenced by 10-km race results.
• GMS shows potential as a practical alternative for assessing physiological markers related to endurance capacity in runners.