Relationship between VO2max and the aerobic demand of running in elite distance runners

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between VO2max and the aerobic demand of running (VO2submax) in elite distance runners. On at least one occasion, VO2max and VO2submax values were obtained on 22 male subjects (mean age = 27 +/- 2 yrs; mean height = 178.6 +/- 6.8 cm; mean body mass = 64.1 +/- 5.6 kg; mean 10 km run time = 28.89 +/- 1.05 min) training for the 1994 Olympic Trials. Subjects performed 6-min, submaximal level-grade treadmill runs at four speeds (ranging from 4.47 to 5.50 m.s-1) to determine VO2submax. VO2 during each run was calculated by analyzing a 2-min gas sample collected during the last 2 min of running. These values were expressed relative to distance traveled and averaged to derive an overall VO2submax value. Shortly following these submaximal runs, VO2max was measured. When more than one set of VO2submax and VO2max data were available for a particular subject, the average of all tests was used. Results indicated that mean VO2max and VO2submax values were 75.8 +/- 3.4 ml.kg-1.min-1 and 184.6 +/- 8.6 ml.kg-1.km-1, respectively. Correlational analyses also revealed a significant relationship (r = 0.59; p < 0.01) between VO2max and VO2submax. These data suggest that among similarly-performing elite distance runners, a positive relationship exists between VO2max and the aerobic demand of running.