The effect of training on running economy and performance in recreational athletes

To analyze the effect of an 8-wk training program on the energy cost of running (C) and the performance of 16 recreational males.

A training group (TG, N = 8, 25.3 +/- 2.9 yr, 183.6 +/- 7.3 cm, 80.9 +/- 9.6 kg) and a control group (CG, N = 8, 24.3 +/- 3.7 yr, 179.3 +/- 6.1 cm, 75.5 +/- 8.0 kg) performed three two-stage tests (TST) at weeks 0, 4, and 8 (W0, W4, W8). Speeds of the first (v-slow) and second stage (v-fast) were 2.4 +/- 0.3 vs 2.5 +/- 0.4 m x s(-1) and 3.7 +/- 0.3 vs 3.9 +/- 0.4 m.s (TG vs CG), respectively. Maximum running time at v-fast (T) served as the measure of performance. C was calculated from oxygen uptake above rest, blood lactate concentration, and speed. The TG trained 3-5x wk(-1) at an HR of +/-10 beats of the HR measured at v-slow at W0 (161 +/- 12 bpm). The CG did not train.

At W0, there were no significant differences between the groups in T (377 +/- 47 vs 335 +/- 34 s) and C (v-slow: 4.1 +/- 0.3 vs 4.3 +/- 0.4 J x kg(-1) x m(-1); v-fast: 4.2 +/- 0.4 vs 4.0 +/- 0.4 J x kg(-1) x m(-1)). In the CG, T and C remained almost unchanged at W4 (363 +/- 38 s, 4.0 +/- 0.4 J x kg(-1) x m(-1)) and at W8 (342 +/- 49 s, 4.0 +/- 0.3 J x kg(-1) x m(-1)). In the TG, T increased (P < 0.05) at W4 (469 +/- 45 s) and at W8 (591 +/- 109 s). At v-fast, also C increased (P < 0.05) at W8 (4.6 +/- 0.4 J x kg(-1) x m(-1)), whereas at v-slow, C decreased (P < 0.05) at W4 (3.7 +/- 0.4 J x kg(-1) x m(-1)) with no further change at W8 (3.7 +/- 0.4 J x kg(-1) x m(-1)).

The training successfully increased running performance in terms of T. During the initial training period, C could be reduced at the speed predominantly used in training. However, at high running speeds, C may even increase if the corresponding running time is largely increased.