Applied Physiology
Eur J Appl Physiol (1992) 65:561-566
European Journal of
and Occupational Physiology © Springer-Verlag1992
Physiological correlates of middle-distance running performance A comparative study between men and women S. Padilla 1, M. Bourdin 2, J. C. Barth616my 3, and J. R. Lacour 2 i Centro Medicina Deportiva, Neudigonoza Amadeo Garcia Salazar S/U, E-01007 Victoria-Gasteiz, Spain z Laboratoire de Physiologie- GIP Exercice, Facult6 de Medecine Lyon-Sud, BP 12, F-69921 Oullins C6dex, France Laboratoire de Physiologie - GIP Exercice, Universit6 de Saint-Etienne, Centre Hospitalier, F-42650 Saint-Jean-Bonnefonds, France Accepted June 22, 1992
Summary. To compare the relative contributions of their functional capacities to performance in relation to sex, two groups of middle-distance runners (24 men and 14 women) were selected on the basis of performances over 1500-m and 3000-m running races. To be selected for the study, the average running velocity (9) in relation to performances had to be superior to a percentage (90O7o for men and 88O7o for women) of the best French 9achieved during the season by an athlete of the same sex. Maximal 0 2 consumption (['ZO2max) and energy cost of running (CR) were measured in the 2 months preceding the track season. This allowed us to calculate the maximal 9- that could be sustained under aerobic conditions, va. . . . . A 9-:V~,m~, ratio derived from 1500-m to 3000-m races was used to calculate the maximal duration of a competitive race for which 9-= Va,m~, (tva . . . . ). In both groups Va,m~x was correlated to 9-. The relationships calculated for each distance were similar in both sexes. The CR [0.179 (SD 0.010) m l . k g - l . m -1 in the women versus 0.177 (SD 0.010) in the men] and t . . . . ,x [7.0 (SD 2.0) min versus 8.4 (SD 2.1)] also showed no difference. The relationships between 1202m,x and body mass (mb) calculated in the men and the women were different. At the same mb the women had a 10% lower CR than the men; their lower mb thus resulted in an identical CR. In both groups CR and ~rO2max were strongly correlated ( r = 0 . 7 4 and 0.75 respectively, P < 0 . 0 1 ) , suggesting that a high level of 1202m~ could hardly be associated with a low CR. These relationships were different in the two groups (P
Eur J Appl Physiol (1992) 65:561-566
European Journal of
and Occupational Physiology © Springer-Verlag1992
Physiological correlates of middle-distance running performance A comparative study between men and women S. Padilla 1, M. Bourdin 2, J. C. Barth616my 3, and J. R. Lacour 2 i Centro Medicina Deportiva, Neudigonoza Amadeo Garcia Salazar S/U, E-01007 Victoria-Gasteiz, Spain z Laboratoire de Physiologie- GIP Exercice, Facult6 de Medecine Lyon-Sud, BP 12, F-69921 Oullins C6dex, France Laboratoire de Physiologie - GIP Exercice, Universit6 de Saint-Etienne, Centre Hospitalier, F-42650 Saint-Jean-Bonnefonds, France Accepted June 22, 1992
Summary. To compare the relative contributions of their functional capacities to performance in relation to sex, two groups of middle-distance runners (24 men and 14 women) were selected on the basis of performances over 1500-m and 3000-m running races. To be selected for the study, the average running velocity (9) in relation to performances had to be superior to a percentage (90O7o for men and 88O7o for women) of the best French 9achieved during the season by an athlete of the same sex. Maximal 0 2 consumption (['ZO2max) and energy cost of running (CR) were measured in the 2 months preceding the track season. This allowed us to calculate the maximal 9- that could be sustained under aerobic conditions, va. . . . . A 9-:V~,m~, ratio derived from 1500-m to 3000-m races was used to calculate the maximal duration of a competitive race for which 9-= Va,m~, (tva . . . . ). In both groups Va,m~x was correlated to 9-. The relationships calculated for each distance were similar in both sexes. The CR [0.179 (SD 0.010) m l . k g - l . m -1 in the women versus 0.177 (SD 0.010) in the men] and t . . . . ,x [7.0 (SD 2.0) min versus 8.4 (SD 2.1)] also showed no difference. The relationships between 1202m,x and body mass (mb) calculated in the men and the women were different. At the same mb the women had a 10% lower CR than the men; their lower mb thus resulted in an identical CR. In both groups CR and ~rO2max were strongly correlated ( r = 0 . 7 4 and 0.75 respectively, P < 0 . 0 1 ) , suggesting that a high level of 1202m~ could hardly be associated with a low CR. These relationships were different in the two groups (P
