Aerobic and anaerobic speed predicts 800-m running performance in young recreational runners

Abstract

The main aim was to investigate the impact of maximal aerobic speed (MAS), maximal anaerobic speed (MANS), and time to exhaustion (TTE) at 130% MAS, on 800-m running time performance (800TT). A second aim was to investigate the impact of anaerobic speed reserve (ASR), i.e., the relative difference between MAS and MANS, on TTE. A total of 22 healthy students classified as recreational runners participated in a cross-sectional study. They were tested for maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), oxygen cost of running (CR), time performance at 100 m (100TT), time performance at 800 m (800TT), and TTE. MAS was calculated as VO2max × CR–1, and MANS was calculated as 100TT velocity. Both MAS and MANS correlated individually with 800TT (r = –0.74 and –0.67, respectively, p < 0.01), and the product of MAS and MANS correlated strongly (r = –0.82, p < 0.01) with 800TT. TTE did not correlate with 800TT. Both ASR and % MANS correlated strongly with TTE (r = 0.90 and –0.90, respectively, p < 0.01). These results showed that 800TT was first and foremost dependent on MAS and MANS, and with no impact from TTE. It seemed that TTE was merely a product of each runner’s individual ASR. We suggest a simplified model of testing and training for 800TT, namely, by focusing on VO2max, CR, and short sprint velocity, i.e., MAS and MANS.