N. Blondel

Determination of the velocity associated with the longest time to exhaustion at maximal oxygen uptake

Abstract The so-called velocity associated with V˙O2max, defined as the minimal velocity which elicits V˙O2max in an incremental exercise protocol (vV˙O2max), is currently used for training to improve V˙O2max. However, it is well known that it is not the sole velocity which elicits V˙O2max and it is possible to achieve V˙O2max at velocities lower and higher than vV˙O2max. The goal of this study was to determine the velocity which allows exercise to be maintained the longest time at V˙O2max. Using the relationship between time to exhaustion at V˙O2max in the all-out runs at 90%, 100%, 120% and 140% of vV˙O2max and distance run at V˙O2max, the velocity which elicits the longest time to exhaustion at V˙O2max (CV′) was determined. For the six subjects tested (physical education students), this velocity was not significantly different from vV˙O2max (16.96 ± 0.92 km · h−1 vs 17.22 ± 1.12 km · h−1, P = 0.2 for CV′ and vV˙O2max, respectively) and these two velocities were correlated (r = 0.88, P = 0.05).

Oxygen kinetics and modelling of time to exhaustion whilst running at various velocities at maximal oxygen uptake.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to characterise the relationship between running velocity and the time for which a subject can run at maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max), (tlimV˙O2max). Seven physical education students ran in an incremental test (3-min stages) to determine V˙O2max and the minimal velocity at which it was elicited (νV˙O2max). They then performed four all-out running tests on a 200-m indoor track every 2 days in random order. The mean times to exhaustion tlim at 90%, 100%, 120% and 140% νV˙O2max were 13 min 22 s (SD 4 min 30 s), 5 min 47 s (SD 1 min 50 s), 2 min 11 s (SD 38 s) and 1 min 12 s (SD 18 s), respectively. Five subjects did not reach V˙O2max in the 90% νV˙O2max test. All the subjects reached V˙O2max in the runs at 100% νV˙O2max. All the subjects, except one, reached V˙O2max in the runs at 120%νV˙O2max. Four subjects did not reach V˙O2max in the 140% νV˙O2max test. Time to achieve V˙O2max was always about 50% of the time to exhaustion irrespective of the intensity. The time to exhaustion-velocity relationship was better fitted by a 3- than by a 2-parameter critical power model for running at 90%, 100%, 120%, 140% νV˙O2max as determined in the previous incremental test. In conclusion, tlimV˙O2max depended on a balance between the time to attain V˙O2max and the time to exhaustion tlim. The time to reach V˙O2max decreased as velocity increased. The tlimV˙O2max was a bi-phasic function of velocity, with a peak at 100% νV˙O2max.

Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test versus the Université de Montréal Track Test: relation with a high-intensity intermittent exercise.

The first purpose of this study was to determine whether the peak velocity (V(Yo-Yo)) achieved during the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (Yo-Yo) and the maximal aerobic velocity (MAV) determined from the Université de Montréal Track Test (UMTT) could be used interchangeably. The second purpose was to check that the V(Yo-Yo) is related to the intermittent exercise performance, which consisted of repeated 90 m distance runs in 15s performed until exhaustion, alternated with 15s of passive recovery (15/15). Fourteen amateur soccer players performed, in a random order, the 15/15 and two incremental field-tests: the Yo-Yo and the UMTT. The results of this study showed that MAV was significantly correlated to the V(Yo-Yo) (r=0.79, p<0.01). However, the error was not constant, when the V(Yo-Yo) and the MAV values were higher than 16.3 km h(-1), the MAV values tends to be higher than the V(Yo-Yo), while when the V(Yo-Yo) and the MAV values were lower than 16.3 km h(-1), the MAV values tends to be lower than the V(Yo-Yo). MAV and V(Yo-Yo) were significantly correlated to the time to exhaustion of the 15/15 (r=0.74 and r=0.72, respectively) and show that both tests are similarly related to the high-intensity intermittent exercise performance.