Determination, measurement, and validation of maximal aerobic speed

This study determined Maximal Aerobic Speed (MAS) at a speed that utilizes maximal aerobic and minimal anaerobic contributions. This method of determining MAS was compared between endurance (ET) and sprint (ST) trained athletes. Nineteen and 21 healthy participants were selected for the determination and validation of MAS respectively. All athletes completed five exercise sessions in the laboratory. Participants validating MAS also ran an all-out 5000 m at the track. Oxygen uptake at MAS was at 96.09 +/- 2.51% maximal oxygen consumption (V(sic)O-2max). MAS had a significantly higher correlation with velocity at lactate threshold (vLT), critical speed, 5000 m, time-to-exhaustion velocity at delta 50 in addition to 5% velocity at V(sic)O-2max -(T-lim upsilon Delta 50 + 5%vV(sic)O-2max), and Vsub%95 (upsilon Delta 50 or upsilon Delta 50 + 5%vV(sic)O-2max) compared with vV(sic)O-2max, and predicted 5000 m speed (R-2 = 0.90, p < 0.001) and vLT (R-2 = 0.96, p < 0.001). ET athletes achieved significantly higher MAS (16.07 +/- 1.58 km center dot h(-1) vs. 12.77 +/- 0.81 km center dot h(-1), p = 0.001) and maximal aerobic energy (E-MAS) (52.87 +/- 5.35 ml center dot kg(-1)center dot min(-1) vs. 46.42 +/- 3.38 ml center dot kg(-1)center dot min(-1), p = 0.005) and significantly shorter duration at MAS (ET: 678.59 +/- 165.44 s; ST: 840.28 +/- 164.97 s, p = 0.039). ST athletes had significantly higher maximal speed (35.21 +/- 1.90 km center dot h(-1), p < 0.001) at a significantly longer distance (41.05 +/- 3.14 m, p = 0.003) in the 50 m sprint run test. Significant differences were also observed in 50 m sprint performance (p < 0.001), and peak post-exercise blood lactate (p = 0.005). This study demonstrates that MAS is more accurate at a percentage of vV(sic)O-2max than at vV(sic)O-2max. The accurate calculation of MAS can be used to predict running performances with lower errors (Running Energy Reserve Index Paper).

Automated summary

This study determined the Maximal Aerobic Speed (MAS) at a percentage of vV(sic)O-2max, which showed higher accuracy in predicting running performances compared to vV(sic)O-2max alone. MAS was significantly correlated with various speed parameters and predicted 5000 m speed and lactate threshold velocity. Endurance trained athletes achieved higher MAS and maximal aerobic energy, but had a shorter duration at MAS compared to sprint trained athletes. Sprint trained athletes demonstrated higher maximal speed and longer distance in a 50 m sprint run test, along with better sprint performance and higher post-exercise blood lactate levels.