Effects of a prolonged maximal run on running economy and running mechanics

The purpose of this study was to document the effects of a prolonged (30 min) maximal run (PMR) on running economy (RE) and running mechanics in 16 male runners (mean VO2max = 59.0 +/- 4.5 ml.kg-1.min-1). After completing 60 min of treadmill accommodation, each subject performed two 10 min economy runs at 200 m.min-1. Subjects were also filmed at 100 fps during the last 30 s of each run in order to quantify 20 temporal, kinematic, and kinetic gait descriptors previously associated with RE variation. Following the second run, each subject completed the PMR at 85% of his predicted velocity at VO2max (89% VO2max). One, two, and four days after the PMR, subjects repeated the 10 min economy run. No significant difference (P greater than or equal to 0.05) in RE (range = 42.3-42.6 ml.kg-1.min-1) was observed following the PMR. Biomechanical analyses also indicated that, with the exception of one variable (plantar flexion angle at toe-off), gait characteristics remained unaltered after the PMR. When considered from a cross-disciplinary perspective, these data suggest that a 30 min maximal run does not increase the aerobic demand of running or disrupt the running mechanics of moderately trained male subjects who perform subsequent submaximal runs over the short term.