Discriminant Analysis of Physiological Differences Between Good and Elite Distance Runners

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Abstract
The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate and quantify physiological differences among groups of distance runners. The subjects included 20 elite distance runners (8 marathon, 12 middle-long distance) and 8 good runners. Working capacity and cardiorespiratory function were determined by submaximal and maximal treadmill tests, and body composition by hydrostatic weighing. The variables studied were maximum oxygen uptake ([Vdot]O2 max), [Vdot]O2 submax, lactic acid submax, lean body weight, and fat weight. MANOVA showed that the good runners differed from the elite runners (p < 0.01) and the elite marathon runners differed from the elite middle-long distance runners (p < 0.05). Discriminant analysis showed that both functions were significant. The first was a general physiological efficiency factor that separated the good and elite runners. The second separated the elite marathon and middle-long distance groups. The second function showed that the marathon runners had lower lactic acid submax values. The middle-long distance runners had higher [Vdot]O2 max values. Classification analysis was used to evaluate the accuracy of the discriminant analysis; 80% of the elite runners were correctly classified as marathon or middle-long distance runners. The discriminant functions were used to develop a multivariate scaling model for evaluating distance runners. Two premier runners, one marathoner (F. Shorter) and one middle-long distance runner (S. Prefontaine), were found to be at the extremes of the scale. The data showed that the discriminant functions provided a valid model for evaluating differences among elite distance runners.

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