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The relationship between marathon running performance and indices of aerobic power during the competition periodAnts Nurmekivi a , Harry Lemberg b , Üllar Kaljumäe c & Jaak Maaroos ca Institute of Sport Pedagogy, University of Tartu, Ülikooli 18, Tartu, 51014, Estonia Phone: 372–7‐434–186 Fax: 372–7‐434–186b Institute of Sport Pedagogy, University of Tartu, Ülikooli 18, Tartu, 51014, Estoniac Department of Sport Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Tartu, Ülikooli 18, Tartu, 51014, Estonia

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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEENMARATHON RUNNING PERFORMANCE AND

INDICES OF AEROBIC POWER DURINGTHE COMPETITION PERIOD

ANTS NURMEKIVIa,*, HARRY LEMBERGa,ÜLLAR KALJUMÄEb and JAAK MAAROOSb

aInstitute of Sport Pedagogy, bDepartment of Sport Medicine and Rehabilitation,University of Tartu, Ülikooli 18, Tartu 51014, Estonia

(Received 10 August 1999; Accepted 14 February 2000)

The aim of the present research was to investigate:

(1) the connections of marathon running competition results with aerobic power output indicesimmediately prior to a top competition;

(2) whether the revealed relationship is compatible with training strategy logic preceding acompetition.

Five marathon runners of good training condition were examined. An incremental treadmilltest to maximum was performed. VO2max, maximal test time, maximal heart rate, O2 uptakeat the aerobic and anaerobic threshold level, aerobic and anaerobic threshold onset time anda marathon running competition result were recorded. Correlation analysis revealed a highrelationship between the competition result and maximal test duration (r= — 0.89) and anaero-bic threshold onset time (r = —0.95). The % of VO2max at the anaerobic threshold is also animportant index of the competition result. The relation between the marathon run time andaerobic power output indices during the competition period proved that the preceding train-ing methods based on the principle of stimulating an anaerobic threshold increase, a greateraerobic power and greater aerobic efficiency, promotes an optimal racing condition at the timeof competition.

Keywords: VO2max; aerobic and anaerobic threshold; maximal treadmill test;marathon running performance

*Corresponding author. Tel: 372-7-434-186. Fax: 372-7-375-362.

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254 A. NURMEKIVI et al.

INTRODUCTION

Marathon running may be classified in the moderate intensity zone of powergeneration and is characterized by compatibility between a subject's Q2

uptake and the corresponding energetic need. Since aerobic metabolism pre-vails during marathon running both basic aerobic power output indicescharacterizing it, as well as the training principles producing it, are essentialfor development of a training strategy. Marathon performance depends ona runner's maximal O2 uptake, lactate threshold and economy of running(Costill et al, 1971; Joyner, 1991; Pate and Branch, 1992). Maximal Q2

uptake indicates the highest level of aerobic metabolism and aerobic powerattained by a subject (Dobeln, 1956; Korobov and Volkov, 1983). This is animportant criterion of a runner's aerobic potential. However, the VO2maxlevel of performance can be maintained for only about lOmin. For this rea-son, there are useful indices characterizing a marathon performance to bedetermined from running tests at speeds less than at VQ2max. These indicesinclude blood lactate threshold or anaerobic threshold and the economy ofrunning, i.e. the Q2 cost to run at any given speed up to maximum. The roleof the latter indices in predicting a running results has been observed in sev-eral studies (Conley and Krahenbuhl, 1980; Svedenhag and Sjodin, 1984;Daniels, 1985; Costill, 1986). The lactate threshold of the majority of mara-thon runners is in the range of 2-3mmol/l (Costill, 1970; Farrell et al,1979). Thus the lactate threshold is localized between the aerobic and anaer-obic thresholds, usually being less than 4mmol/l (Sjodin and Jacobs, 1981).Top marathon runners are able to run a marathon at a speed requiring anO2 uptake of aproximately 85% VQ2max (Pollock, 1977; Farrell et al, 1979;Costill et al, 1986; Daniels and Daniels, 1992).

Joyner (1991) considers it expedient to differentiate between a low, med-ium and high lactate threshold relating to an O2 uptake of 75%, 80% and85% of VO2max, respectively. According to this author, the scale of low,medium and high economy may be applied to assessing a runner's economy.Running economy appears to interact with VO2max and blood lactatethreshold to determine the actual running speed at the lactate threshold,which is generally a speed similar to or slightly slower than that sustained byindividual runners in the marathon (Farrell et al, 1979). According toresearch conducted by Daniels and Daniels (1992) with a group of top ath-letes, a higher VO2max speed was a considerably better predictor of the run-ning result than VO2max or running economy taken separately. In an idealcase each marathon runner would have both a high VO2max and high econ-omy. Actually, most often these latter indices are inversely, not directly,

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MARATHON PERFORMANCE AND INDICES OF AEROBIC POWER 255

connected. Classical examples of this are the world class marathon runnersClayton and Shorter who each possessed a modest VC^max index (69.7 and71.3 ml • min"1 • kg"1 respectively) but possessed a high economy in running.

From the viewpoint of training it is important that the anaerobic thresh-old and VC^max be improved independently of each other (Denis et al.,1982; Henritze et al., 1985). Consequently, their particular development atdifferent preparation stages preceding a marathon competition is both pos-sible and justified. The quickest modification effected both by short termtraining or by training covering several years is that to VC^max, i.e. aerobicpower, while a longer term of development is needed to increase the anaero-bic threshold running velocity (Volkov, 1986). The general principle of aprolonged adaptation being needed in some variables, is well described. Atthe beginning of an adaptation there is first a shift in the power generationthen an increase in capacity occurs and lastly an improved efficiency ofbioenergetic processes takes place. Aerobic capacity is defined as the abilityto maintain maximal O2 uptake; aerobic efficiency describes the process ofsupplying the minimum aerobic energy, needed to perform the task duringthe performance of a specific workrate (Korobov and Volkov, 1983). Anability to increase the velocity of running at the anaerobic threshold indi-cates an improvement in aerobic efficiency.

Development of different aerobic power components each at a differentstage of preparation is an important feature in planning yearly training fortop marathon runners of today (Lenzi, 1983; Krause, 1988; Smehnov, 1990;Vuorimaa, 1991). In the preparatory stage the main stress is on increasinga runner's strength endurance and aerobic threshold velocity, during specialtraining stages the accent is on increasing aerobic efficiency, i.e. running at

a

a high velocity with minimum VO2 requirement.Specialized research (Velikorodnoh et al., 1986) has shown that excessive

intensification of a marathon runners training immediately before final pre-paration for top competitions (an attempt for excessive development ofaerobic power) leads to a deterioration in the competition result. In order toavoid this danger, the above authors recommended that specific trainingshould be in the velocity zone corresponding to that estimated to be neededin a forthcoming competition.

The aim of the present work is to:

(1) establish the relationship between a marathon running competitionresult and aerobic power indices immediately prior to a top competition;

(2) determine whether any revealed relationship is compatible with the logicof the structure of the training strategy preceding competition.

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256 A. NURMEKIVI et al.

METHODS

The subjects were 5 marathon runners in good training on whom labora-tory condition tests were made prior to their participation in a marathoncompetition.

The final competition was preceded by specialized training. The mean(±SD) age of subjects was 27.4 ±4.7 years, body height 176.8 ±2.2 cm,body weight 66.54 ±2.1 kg, and mean marathon running result 2.27.30.

Initial evaluation tests on the subjects were conducted in the SportsMedicine and Rehabilitation Clinic associated with the Institute of SportPedagogy the University of Tartu. A stepwise incremental running test wasperformed to volitional exhaustion on a treadmill LE 3000 (Germany) byeach subject. The initial speed 8 km/h was increased by 2 km/h every 3 min.until 14 km/h and from that point by 1 km/h to exhaustion. The treadmillgradient was 1° during the whole test. Respiratory gas exchange (RGE) wasmeasured with a gas analyzer "Oxycon Record" (Germany). A sample ofexhaled air was analyzed every 30 s. Q2 uptake was measured and the high-est value attained during the test was regarded as the VC^max index. Theanaerobic threshold was determined to be the point where ventilatoryequivalent for oxygen (VE/VO2) increased sharply while the ventilatoryequivalent for CO2 (VE/VCO2) remained steady (Wasserman, 1973). Theaerobic threshold was determined as the optimum level of aerobic metab-olism and it coincided with the work rate at which the lowest amount of O2

was found in the exhaled air (Anderson and Rhodes, 1989).The level of O2 uptake at the aerobic and anaerobic threshold work

rate; the aerobic and anaerobic threshold onset time; and the % of VO2maxat the anaerobic threshold were determined. Heart rate (HR) was con-tinuously recorded from an applied sport tester PE 3000 (Finland). Max-imal test time in minutes was recorded.

Training preceding the tests was structured using ideas of modern trainingmethodology for the marathon race (Lenzi, 1983; Vuorimaa, 1991). Themain attention at the beginning of the preparatory period was paid toimproving general muscular efficiency, running technique, flexibility andaerobic and anaerobic threshold running speeds. Continuous running at aprogressively increasing pace was practiced. At the base training stage anemphasis was made on aerobic power (fast continuous running, fast pro-gressively increasing pace running, repetition and uphill running). The levelof other important abilities - aerobic base endurance and muscular effi-ciency was maintained. The training methods most used in the specific train-ing cycle before an important competition were marathon pace runs and

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MARATHON PERFORMANCE AND INDICES OF AEROBIC POWER 257

prolonged medium pace runs as the best drills to induce the necessary spe-cific adaption of the metabolism. Slow pace runs as exercise for recoveryand regeneration and muscular efficiency exercise were used as maintenancetraining. Duration of the preparatory stage was two months. The mean andstandard deviation as well as the correlation between different indices wasestablished.

RESULTS

Results are presented in Tables I and II. The group mean marathonrunning competition result was 2.27.30, the best individual being 2.17.42and the worst 2.45.30. The group mean O2 uptake per 1 kg of bodyweight was 71.1 ±5.04ml-min"1-kg"1 emphasizing the good aerobicpower of the subjects. This latter was further confirmed by the subjects'

• 1 1

individual differences in VC^max/kg (best 77.8ml-min~ -kg , worst64.06ml-min"1 kg"1) being comparable with their difference in compe-tition results. The realization of a runner's potential, however, depends on

TABLE I Marathon running competition results and aerobic powerindices (X± SD) in marathon runners (n = 5)

Index X SD

1. VO2max (ml • min""1 • kg"1)2. Max test time (min)3. Max HR4. O2 uptake at anaerobic threshold level

(ml-min"1 -kg"1)5. Anaerobic threshold onset time (min)6. % of VO2max at anaerobic threshold7. O2 uptake at aerobic threshold level

(ml-min"1 -kg"1)8. Aerobic threshold onset time (min)9. Marathon running competition result (min)

TABLE II Correlations between a marathon running competition result and aerobic powerindices (X± SD) in marathon runners (n = 5; for r > 0.85, p significant at p < 0.05 level)

71.123.6

186.661.5

18.086.455.5

13.7147.3

±5.04±3.21±10.9±5.6

±3.0±2.5±6.1

±2.3±11.1

2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.

0.27-0.79

0.970.570.640.880.60

-0.541

0.060.440.930.79

-0.110.82

-0.932

-0.73-0.27-0.38-0.71-0.06

0.233

0.690.800.820.71

-0.704

0.850.160.84

-0.955

0.430.85

-0.966

0.38-0.23

7-0.89

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258 A. NURMEKIVI et al.

the quality of the training work. The subjects' % of VC^max at the anaero-bic threshold was also high at 86.4% ± 2.5.

The difference in functional power between the marathon runner's withthe best and the worst competition result was reflected in a runners respec-tive times to volitional exhaustion on the treadmill test - 27 and 19minrespectively. The same contrast was observed in the time needed to attainthe aerobic and anaerobic threshold respectively - a better prepared mara-thon runner attained a threshold level velocity considerably later in the testat a much higher velocity of running.

Correlation analysis revealed a close connection of the competition resultwith maximal test time (r = —0.93), and also with the time of attaining theaerobic (r = — 0.89) and anaerobic threshold (r = — 0.95). A significant indexpredicting a marathon running competition result was the % of VC^maxattained at the anaerobic threshold (r = — 0.96). A statistically significantassociation between the competition result and VC^max (ml • min~~ • kg" )was not established.

DISCUSSION

It is logical to presume that in order to attain top condition, the specificworking power and capacity indices of a marathon runner have to be highlydeveloped. Tests conducted during a preparatory stage may not yield objec-tive information on the attained power a few months hence. For this reasonit is essential to assess aerobic power indices of a runner immediately prioreach important competition. It is not necessary to cover a long distance inorder to estimate the aerobic power of a marathon runner. The maximal testtime serves as an objectives and significant index. This is confirmed by highcorrespondence between this index and marathon running result (r =—0.93). In the present study the results are compatible with earlier research(Noakes, 1988; 1991) proving the high predictive level of the treadmill testfor marathon running performance.

The present work has shown that during the competition period VC>2max(ml-min""1 kg"1) does not directly influence the competition result of amarathon runner (r = —0.54; p > 0.05). It appeared that a far more impor-tant index of possible competition success is the % VC^max value at theanaerobic threshold (r = —0.96). The importance of the aerobic and anaero-bic threshold velocity in influencing a marathon runner's competition resultduring the principal competition period is also demonstrated by the compe-tition result being highly correlated with the running velocity attained at the

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MARATHON PERFORMANCE AND INDICES OF AEROBIC POWER 259

aerobic (r = —0.89) and anaerobic threshold (r= —0.95) respectively. Conse-quently, it is essential at the time of a principal competition period that boththe runner's respective aerobic and anaerobic threshold running velocity isclosely aligned with the typical marathon runner's running economy. Thementioned threshold velocities are closely connected to a marathon runner'seconomy.

Joyner (1991) has presented a table on low, medium and high economy ofa marathon runner based on the O2 uptake of a runner at the lactate thresh-old level and the corresponding results of the various runners of differentquality. Since the subjects in the present research recorded both a competi-tion result as well as an anaerobic threshold O2 uptake level, Joyner's tablecould be used for determining a runner's economy - low, medium, or high.Knowing the aerobic power and running economy level of a given runner,it is possible to make training corrections and establish the most suitablestrategic approach for future training of each individual.

The results of the present study confirmed a staged accentuation ofintense training was best for competition, a fact widely recognized now ina top marathon runner's training. This tactics is in good accordance withearlier research (Lenzi, 1983; Velikorodnoh et al., 1986; Vuorimaa, 1991)and guarantees optimal development in a specific sequence of aerobic powerbasics, i.e. strength endurance and delay in respiratory gas exchange onsetthreshold with increased running velocity leading to development of greateraerobic power, aerobic efficiency and finally high aerobic capacity. Thehighest level of the latter should be attained at the time of the principal com-petition period. Since four of the subjects in present study attained a per-sonal record at competition post-testing and one subject showed a resultclose to this, it can be maintained that the preceding training was correctlystructured and guaranteed an individually high functional power and endur-ance at the time chosen for competition.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) The competition result of a marathon runner during a competitionperiod was first influenced by developing aerobic efficiency the detailedcriteria of which are a delay in reaching the respective anaerobic andaerobic thresholds during an incremental treadmill test to volitionalexhaustion, attainment of the highest possible % of VC^max at theanaerobic threshold, and development of the highest running velocity atthis level of oxygen uptake.

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260 A. NURMEKIVI et al.

(2) It is shown that when the preceding training is structured on the princi-ple of creating training conditions for increasing the anaerobic thresh-old, then aerobic power and finally aerobic efficiency, in sequence, itguarantees that an optimal level of aerobic power/capacity for a mara-thon runner will be achieved at the planned time of competition.

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