Influence of Body Mass and Height on the Energy Cost of Running in Highly Trained Middle- and Long-Distance Runners

Evidence supports the implementation of concurrent strength and running training, within the same mesocycle, to improve performances in middle- and long-distance events. However, very little is known about the effects of concurrent training cessation. The purpose of this investigation was to describe the effects of 4 weeks of explosive strength training cessation after an 8-week concurrent training protocol. Eight runners completed this study, which first included either plyometric (n = 4) or dynamic weight training (n = 4) in addition to the usual running regimen. Explosive strength training was thereafter interrupted for 4 weeks, during which running sessions were maintained. Participants were tested at baseline, after concurrent training and after concurrent training cessation. The results suggest that the energy cost of running improvements observed after the intervention (−5.75%; 95% CI = −8.47 to −3.03) were maintained once explosive strength training was interrupted (−6.31%; 95% CI = −10.30 to −2.32). The results also suggest that neuromuscular performances were maintained after 4 weeks of concurrent training cessation, especially when tests were specific to the training intervention. Furthermore, a 3000m time trial revealed a similar pattern, with improvements after the concurrent mesocycle (−2.40%; 95% CI = −4.65 to −0.16) and after concurrent training cessation (−4.43%; 95% CI = −6.83 to −2.03). Overall, only trivial changes were observed for aerobic endurance and V˙O2peak. Together, these results suggest that short-term explosive strength training cessation might be beneficial and could be considered as a taper strategy for middle-distance runners. However, coaches and athletes must interpret these results cautiously considering the study’s low sample size and the very limited available literature in this domain.

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Standardized MET Value Underestimates the Energy Cost of Treadmill Running in Men

International Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1055/s-0043-115739 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (12) ◽

pp. 890-896

Author(s):

Helouane Ázara ◽

Paulo Farinatti ◽

Adrian Midgley ◽

Fabrício Vasconcellos ◽

Patrícia Vigário ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Mass ◽

Energy Cost ◽

Fat Free Mass ◽

Treadmill Running ◽

Metabolic Equivalent ◽

Total Body Mass ◽

Healthy Men ◽

Energy Cost Of Running ◽

The Mean ◽

Total Body

AbstractThe main purpose of the present study was to compare the reference metabolic equivalent (MET) value and observed resting oxygen uptake (VO2) for defining cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) and characterizing the energy cost of treadmill running. A heterogeneous cohort of 114 healthy men volunteered to participate. In Part 1 of the study, 114 men [mean±SD, age: 24±5 years; height: 177.1±7.9 cm; body mass: 75.0±10.0 kg] visited the laboratory twice for assessment of resting and maximal VO2 values to compare the reference MET value vs. observed resting VO2 and to investigate the association between resting VO2 and VO2max. In Part 2, 14 of the 114 men visited the laboratory once more to perform a 30-min bout of running at 8.0 km∙h−1/8.3 METs. The mean observed resting VO2 of 3.26 mL·kg−1·min−1 was lower than the reference MET value of 3.5 mL·kg−1·min−1 (P<0.001). Resting and maximal VO2 values relative to total body mass and fat-free mass were positively correlated (R=0.71 and 0.60, respectively; P<0.001). The maximal MET and energy cost of treadmill running were consequently underestimated when calculated using the reference MET value only for those with low VO2max (P=0.005 to P<0.001). In conclusion, the reference MET value considerably overestimated observed resting VO2 in men with low VO2max, resulting in underestimations of the maximal MET, exercise intensity prescription, and the energy cost of running.

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Body-Mass-Modified Running Economy and Step Length in Elite Male Middle- and Long-Distance Runners

International Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1055/s-2007-1021065 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 15 (06) ◽

pp. 305-310 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

J. Svedenhag ◽

B. Sjödin

Keyword(s):

Body Mass ◽

Step Length ◽

Running Economy ◽

Distance Runners ◽

Long Distance

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Influence of training, sex, age and body mass on the energy cost of running

European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology ◽

10.1007/bf00599618 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 66 (5) ◽

pp. 439-444 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

M. Bourdin ◽

J. Pastene ◽

M. Germain ◽

J. R. Lacour

Keyword(s):

Body Mass ◽

Energy Cost ◽

Energy Cost Of Running

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Elite swimmers do not exhibit a body mass index trade-off across a wide range of event distances

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2018.0684 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 285 (1882) ◽

pp. 20180684

Author(s):

Christian M. Gagnon ◽

Michael E. Steiper ◽

Herman Pontzer

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Body Mass ◽

The Body ◽

Distance Runners ◽

Long Distance ◽

Trade Off ◽

Wide Range ◽

Elite Swimmers ◽

Performance Capability ◽

And Performance

There is a trade-off reflected in the contrasting phenotypes of elite long-distance runners, who are typically leaner, and elite sprinters, who are usually more heavily muscled. It is unclear, however, whether and how swimmers' bodies vary across event distances from the 50 m swim, which is about a 20–30 s event, to the 10 000 m marathon swim, which is about a 2 h event. We examined data from the 2012 Olympics to test whether swimmers’ phenotypes differed across event distances. We show that across all swimming event distances, from the 50 m sprint to the 10 000 m marathon, swimmers converge on a single optimal body mass index (BMI) in men's and women's events, in marked contrast with the strong inverse relationship between BMI and event distance found in runners. The absence of a speed–endurance trade-off in the body proportions of swimmers indicates a fundamental difference in design pressures and performance capability in terrestrial versus aquatic environments.

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Srovnání ekonomiky běhu na základě příjmu kyslíku u vytrvalostních běžců na asfaltu, škváře a tartanu

Studia sportiva ◽

10.5817/sts2014-2-5 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 46-52

Author(s):

Jaroslava Chovancová ◽

Martina Bernaciková ◽

Jan Novotný ◽

Tomáš Kalina ◽

Miriam Kalichová

Keyword(s):

Oxygen Consumption ◽

Oxygen Uptake ◽

Body Mass ◽

Stress Testing ◽

Running Economy ◽

Testing System ◽

Distance Runners ◽

Long Distance ◽

Post Hoc ◽

Energetic Aspect

The purpose of this study was to compare running economy (by oxygen consumption) in long distance runners on three different surfaces (asphalt, cinder and tartan). Thirty Czech long distance runners (age: 25.1±4.3 years, height: 183.2±7.4 cm, body mass: 72.4±6.0 kg, BMI: 22.5±1.4 and VO2 max: 65.8±5.2 ml∙min∙kg-1) participated in this study. We measured oxygen uptake by wireless, portable cardiopulmonary stress testing system (Oxygen Mobile, Viasys) on each surface during running at speeds: 10, 12, 14 and 16 km∙h-1. Differences of oxygen uptake were assessed statistically using parametric ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey HSD test. We found significant differences between asphalt and cinder for 12, 14 and 16 km∙h-1. Differences of average values of oxygen uptake on tartan at 10 km∙h-1:35.2±2.8 ml∙min∙kg-1; 12 km∙h-1: 41.0±3.4 ml∙min∙kg-1; 14 km∙h-1: 47.8±4.2 ml∙min∙kg-1a 16 km∙h-1: 54.2±4.9 ml∙min∙kg-1; on cinder at 10 km∙h-1: 36.2±3.6 ml∙min∙kg-1; 12 km∙h-1: 42.5±3.9 ml∙min∙kg-1; 14 km∙h-1: 49.5±5.4 ml∙min∙kg-1a 16 km∙h-1: 56.1±6.8 ml∙min∙kg-1 and on asphalt at 10 km∙h-1: 35.0±3.7 ml∙min∙- kg-1; 12 km∙h-1: 39.8±4.0 ml∙min∙kg-1; 14 km∙h-1: 46.3±5.1 ml∙min∙kg-1a 16 km∙h-1 : 53.5±4.8 ml∙min∙kg-1. The lowest values of oxygen uptake were found on asphalt surface. The asphalt is probably the most favorable surface according to energetic aspect.

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