The Reliability of Running Performance in a 5 km Time Trial on a Non-motorized Treadmill

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Non-motorized treadmills offer a unique environment for self-paced running assessments.
• Establishing the reliability of performance metrics and physiological responses is crucial for valid scientific inquiry in exercise testing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the reliability of a self-paced 5km running time trial on a non-motorized treadmill.
• To assess the reliability of key physiological responses during this specific exercise protocol.

Main Methods:

• Seventeen male runners completed two maximal 5km running time trials on a non-motorized treadmill after a familiarization session.
• Performance (time) and physiological variables (heart rate, oxygen uptake, blood lactate, etc.) were measured during both trials.

Main Results:

• Running times between trials showed high reliability (ICC=0.99, CV=1.2%).
• Most physiological variables also demonstrated good reliability (CV < 4%, ICC > 0.92), with exceptions in blood lactate and electromyography.
• Blood lactate (ICC=0.83) and electromyography (ICC=0.71-0.91) showed moderate to good reliability.

Conclusions:

• The 5km running time trial on a non-motorized treadmill is a highly reliable test for assessing running performance.
• The protocol provides reliable physiological data for most measured variables, making it suitable for research and training assessments.