The correlation between running economy and maximal oxygen uptake: cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships in highly trained distance runners

A positive relationship between running economy and maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) has been postulated in trained athletes, but previous evidence is equivocal and could have been confounded by statistical artefacts. Whether this relationship is preserved in response to running training (changes in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2015-04, Vol.10 (4), p.e0123101-e0123101
Main Authors: Shaw, Andrew J, Ingham, Stephen A, Atkinson, Greg, Folland, Jonathan P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aerobiosis
Analysis
Artefacts
Athletes
Body measurements
Correlation
Correlation analysis
Cross-Sectional Studies
Economic aspects
Economics
Efficiency
Energy Metabolism
Exercise - physiology
Exhaustion
Female
Females
Fitness equipment
Health sciences
Humans
Laboratories
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Males
Oxygen
Oxygen - metabolism
Oxygen Consumption - physiology
Oxygen uptake
Physiology
Protection and preservation
Runners (Sports)
Running
Running - physiology
Studies
Task Performance and Analysis
Training
Variables
Young Adult
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Summary:A positive relationship between running economy and maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) has been postulated in trained athletes, but previous evidence is equivocal and could have been confounded by statistical artefacts. Whether this relationship is preserved in response to running training (changes in running economy and V̇O2max) has yet to be explored. This study examined the relationships of (i) running economy and V̇O2max between runners, and (ii) the changes in running economy and V̇O2max that occur within runners in response to habitual training. 168 trained distance runners (males, n = 98, V̇O2max 73.0 ± 6.3 mL∙kg-1∙min-1; females, n = 70, V̇O2max 65.2 ± 5.9 mL kg-1∙min-1) performed a discontinuous submaximal running test to determine running economy (kcal∙km-1). A continuous incremental treadmill running test to volitional exhaustion was used to determine V̇O2max 54 participants (males, n = 27; females, n = 27) also completed at least one follow up assessment. Partial correlation analysis revealed small positive relationships between running economy and V̇O2max (males r = 0.26, females r = 0.25; P
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0123101