Anaerobic threshold determination in master endurance runners

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Exercise Physiology
• Human Performance

Background:

• Master athletes represent a growing demographic in endurance sports.
• Understanding physiological responses in master athletes is crucial for training and performance.
• Previous research has focused more on younger athletes, leaving a gap in knowledge for older, highly trained individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the validity of common physiological tests in middle-aged endurance runners.
• To compare the aerobic-anaerobic transition points in master athletes with established data from younger athletes.
• To determine if standard exercise testing protocols are applicable to older endurance athletes.

Main Methods:

• Twenty middle-aged endurance runners completed comprehensive physiological testing.
• Tests included determination of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), lactate threshold, ventilatory threshold, and slope variation point (SVP) for running speed (RS) and heart rate (HR).
• Field and treadmill tests were conducted, alongside measurements of blood lactate accumulation onset.

Main Results:

• High correlations (0.70 < r < 0.95; p < 0.01) were observed between running speed, heart rate, VO2, and blood lactate concentration at various thresholds.
• Key indices of aerobic-anaerobic transition occurred at comparable percentages of VO2max in master athletes versus younger counterparts.
• The tested physiological markers demonstrated consistency and reliability in this master athlete cohort.

Conclusions:

• Standard physiological testing protocols are valid and reliable for assessing middle-aged endurance runners.
• The aerobic-anaerobic transition characteristics in master athletes align with those of younger athletes relative to their VO2max.
• These findings support the continued use of established exercise testing methods for master athletes in sports science and clinical settings.