PHYSIOLOGICAL-CHARACTERISTICS OF ELITE PREPUBERTAL CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNERS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 11  (2) , 172-176
Abstract
Eight elite cross-country runners and 8 normally active boys 8-11 yr of age were studied. The runners were selected on the basis of success in regional and/or national championships. Two of them had the 1st to 3rd fastest mile run times for their age groups in the USA for 3 yr. Tests included submaximal and maximal treadmill runs, an anaerobic capacity bicycle test, a mile run and various anthropometric measures. A best career mile run (BCM) was used for comparisons within the running group. At submaximal work levels of 5, 6 and 7 mph (134, 161, and 187 m/min) the values for heart rate (HR) and respiratory exchange ratio (R) were significantly lower for the runners than for the non-runners. The .ovrhdot.VO2 max [maximal oxygen consumption rate] of the runners (56.6 ml/kg per min) was significantly higher than that of the non-runners (46.0 ml/kg per min). For all subjects combined, mile run time was highly correlated with percent .ovrhdot.VO2 max and percent max HR at all submaximal running speeds (r [correlation coefficient] > 0.8). The correlation coefficient between mile run time and .ovrhdot.VO2 max was -0.88. Within the running group, BCM was unrelated to .ovrhdot.VO2 max but was closely related to percent .ovrhdot.VO2 max at 8 mph (213 meters/min) with r = 0.86 and to anaerobic capacity (r = -0.88). There were no significant differences between the groups in age, height, weight, max HR, and percent body fat. Thus the runners had higher aerobic and anaerobic capacities and greater utilization of fat as an energy substrate during submaximal work. Within the running group, anaerobic capacity and running economy were closely related to BCM time, whereas .ovrhdot.VO2 max was not.

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