A prediction equation for indirect assessment of anaerobic threshold in male distance runners

The predictability of anaerobic threshold (AT) from maximal aerobic power, distance running performance, chronological age, and total running distance achieved on the treadmill (TRD) was investigated in a sample of 53 male distance runners, 17–23 years of age. The dependent variable was oxygen uptake (\(\dot V_{O_2 } \)) at which AT was detected (i. e.,\(\dot V_{O_2 } \) @AT). A regression analysis of the data indicated\(\dot V_{O_2 } \) @AT could be predicted from the following four measurements with a multipleR=0.831 and a standard error of the estimate of 2.66 ml · min⁻¹ · kg⁻¹:\(\dot V_{O_{2max} } \) (67.9±5.7 ml · min⁻¹ · kg⁻¹), 1,500-m running performance (254.5±14.2 s), TRD (6.82±1.13 km), and age (19.4±2.2 years). When independent variables were limited to\(\dot V_{O_{2max} } \) (X₁) and 1,500-m running performance (X₂) for simpler assessment, a multipleR=0.806 and a standard error of the estimate of 2.76 ml · min⁻¹ · kg⁻¹ were computed. A useful prediction equation with this predictive accuracy was considered to be\(\dot V_{O_2 } \) @AT= 0.386X₁−0.128X₂+57.11. To determine if the prediction equation developed for the 53 male distance runners could be generalized to other samples, cross-validation of the equation was tested, using 21 different distance runners, 17–22 years of age. A high correlation (R=0.927) was obtained between\(\dot V_{O_2 } \) @AT predicted from the above equation and directly measured\(\dot V_{O_2 } \) @AT. It is concluded that the generalized equation may be applicable to young distance runners for indirect assessment of\(\dot V_{O_2 } \) @AT.