Running Speed at Predicted Maximal Heart Rate as an Assessment of Maximal Aerobic Capacity in Trained Teenaged Runners

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine whether the running speed (vHRmax.pred) corresponding to a HRmax predicted by the formula [220-age (yrs)], is a useful physiologic index of endurance among trained young runners in a specified age group (12-20 yrs). Correlations were analyzed between vHRmax.pred and Vo₂max, vVo₂max (running speed corresponding to Vo₂max,), vLT (running speed at a blood lactate level of 4 mmol·L^-1), vHRmax.meas (running speed at the measured HRmax), and competitive 1500 and 3000-m performance times in 43 endurance-trained, teenaged runners (25 males, 18 females).
Methods: Physiological variables (Vo₂, HR, and La) were measured during progressive sub-maximal and maximal treadmill running. Running speeds corresponding to Vo₂max, HRmax.meas, and HRmax.pred were estimated from regressions relating each individual's running speed to Vo₂ and HR.
Results: With a few exceptions, gender-specific correlation coefficients were significant between Vo₂max, vVo₂max, vLT, vHRmax.meas, and vHRmax.pred, with values ranging from 0.41 to 0.93 (p<0.05). vHRmax.pred was a significant predictor of running performance for both 1500 and 3000-m events (r=-0.62 and -0.52 in males, and -0.66 and -0.80 in females, respectively).
Conclusion: The results suggested that vHRmax.pred is a useful predictor of endurance running performance in trained teenaged runners. This fact also suggested the possibility of developing an index of endurance running performance in untrained teenagers.