A New Short Track Test to Estimate the V[Combining Dot Above]O2max and Maximal Aerobic Speed in Well-Trained Runners

Pallarés, JG, Cerezuela-Espejo, V, Morán-Navarro, R, Martínez-Cava, A, Conesa, E, and Courel-Ibáñez, J. A new short track test to estimate the V[Combining Dot Above]O2max and maximal aerobic speed in well-trained runners. J Strength Cond Res 33(5): 1216-1221, 2019-This study was designed to validate a new short track test (Track(1:1)) to estimate running performance parameters maximal oxygen uptake (V[Combining Dot Above]O2max) and maximal aerobic speed (MAS), based on a laboratory treadmill protocol and gas exchange data analysis (Lab(1:1)). In addition, we compared the results with the University of Montreal Track Test (UMTT). Twenty-two well-trained male athletes (V[Combining Dot Above]O2max 60.3 ± 5.9 ml·kg·min; MAS ranged from 17.0 to 20.3 km·h) performed 4 testing protocols: 2 in laboratory (Lab(1:1)-pre and Lab(1:1)) and 2 in the field (UMTT and Track(1:1)). The Lab(1:1)-pre was designed to determine individuals' Vpeak and set initial speeds for the subsequent Lab(1:1) short ramp graded exercise testing protocol, starting at 13 km·h less than each athlete's Vpeak, with 1 km·h increments per minute until exhaustion. The Track(1:1) was a reproduction of the Lab(1:1) protocol in the field. A novel equation was yielded to estimate the V[Combining Dot Above]O2max from the Vpeak achieved in the Track(1:1). Results revealed that the UMTT significantly underestimated the Vpeak (-4.2%; bias = -0.8 km·h; p < 0.05), which notably altered the estimations (MAS: -2.6%, bias = -0.5 km·h; V[Combining Dot Above]O2max: 4.7%, bias = 2.9 ml·kg·min). In turn, data from Track(1:1) were very similar to the laboratory test and gas exchange methods (Vpeak: -0.6%, bias = <0.1 km·h; MAS: 0.3%, bias = <0.1 km·h; V[Combining Dot Above]O2max: 0.4%, bias = 0.2 ml·kg·min, p > 0.05). Thus, the current Track(1:1) test emerges as a better alternative than the UMTT to estimate maximal running performance parameters in well-trained and highly trained athletes on the field.