Comparison of the 45-second/15-second intermittent running field test and the continuous treadmill test

To compare the physiological responses and maximal aerobic running velocity (MAV) during an incremental intermittent (45-s run/15-s rest) field test (45-15FIT) vs an incremental continuous treadmill test (TR) and to demonstrate that the MAV obtained during 45-15FIT (MAV45-15) was relevant to elicit a high percentage of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) during a 30-s/30-s intermittent training session.

Oxygen uptake (VO2), heart rate (HR), and lactate concentration ([La]) were measured in 20 subjects during 2 maximal incremental tests and four 15-min intermittent tests. The time spent above 90% and 95% VO2max (t90% and t95% VO2max, respectively) was determined.

Maximal physiological parameters were similar during the 45-15FIT and TR tests (VO2max 58.6±5.9 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1) for TR vs 58.5±7.0 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1) for 45-15FIT; HRmax 200±8 beats/min for TR vs 201±7 beats/min for 45-15FIT). MAV45-15 was significantly (P<.001) greater than MAVTR (17.7±1.1 vs 15.6±1.4 km/h). t90% and t95% VO2max during the 30-s/30-s performed at MAVTR were significantly (P<.01) lower than during the 30-s/30-s performed at MAV45-15. Similar VO2 during intermittent tests performed at MAV45-15 and at MAVTR can be obtained by reducing the recovery time or using active recovery.

The results suggested that the 45-15FIT is an accurate field test to determine VO2max and that MAV45-15 can be used during high-intensity intermittent training such as 30-s runs interspersed with 30-s rests (30-s/30-s) to elicit a high percentage of VO2max.