Energy cost differences between marathon runners and soccer players: Constant versus shuttle running

Purpose: In the last decades, the energy cost assessment provided new insight on shuttle or constant running as training modalities. No study, though, quantified the benefit of constant/shuttle running in soccer-players and runners. Therefore, the aim of this study was to clarify if marathon runners and soccer players present specific energy cost values related to their training experience performing constant and shuttle running. Methods: To this aim, eight runners (age 34 +/- 7.30y; training experience 5.70 +/- 0.84y) and eight soccer-players (age 18.38 +/- 0.52y; training experience 5.75 +/- 1.84y) were assessed randomly for 6' on shuttle-running or constant-running with 3 days of recovery in-between. For each condition, the blood lactate (BL) and the energy cost of constant (C-r) and shuttle running (C-Sh) was determined. To assess differences for metabolic demand in terms of C-r, C-Sh and BL over the two running conditions on the two groups a MANOVA was used. Results: (V)over dotO(2max) were 67.9 +/- 4.5 and 56.8 +/- 4.3 ml.min(-1) kg(-1) (p = 0.0002) for marathon runners and soccer players, respectively. On constant running, the runners had a lower C-r compared to soccer players (3.86 +/- 0.16 J kg(-1)m(-1) vs. 4.19 +/- 0.26 J kg(-1)m(-1); F = 9.759, respectively; p = 0.007). On shuttle running, runners had a higher C-Sh compared to soccer players (8.66 +/- 0.60 J kg(-1)m(-1) vs. 7.86 +/- 0.51 J kg(-1)m(-1); F = 8.282, respectively; with p = 0.012). BL on constant running was lower in runners compared to soccer players (1.06 +/- 0.07 mmol L-1 vs. 1.56 +/- 0.42 mmol L-1, respectively; with p = 0.005). Conversely, BL on shuttle running was higher in runners compared to soccer players 7.99 +/- 1.49 mmol L-1 vs. 6.04 +/- 1.69 mmol L-1, respectively; with p = 0.028). Conclusion: The energy cost optimization on constant or shuttle running is strictly related to the sport practiced.

Automated summary

The energy cost optimization on constant or shuttle running is strictly related to the sport practiced. Marathon runners have lower energy cost during constant running, while soccer players have lower energy cost during shuttle running. The study highlights the importance of choosing the appropriate running modality based on the specific sport practiced.