The effects of different training backgrounds on VO2 responses to all-out and supramaximal constant-velocity running bouts

Abstract

To investigate the impact of different training backgrounds on pulmonary oxygen uptake (VO2) responses during all-out and supramaximal constant-velocity running exercises, nine sprinters (SPRs) and eight endurance runners (ENDs) performed an incremental test for maximal aerobic velocity (MAV) assessment and two supramaximal running exercises (1-min allout test and constant-velocity exercise). The VO2 responses were continuously determined during the tests (K4b2, Cosmed, Italy). A mono-exponential function was used to describe the VO2 onset kinetics during constant-velocity test at 110%MAV, while during 1-min all-out test the peak of VO2 (VO2peak), the time to achieve the VO2peak (tVO2peak) and the VO2 decrease at last of the test was determined to characterize the VO2 response. During constant-velocity exercise, ENDs had a faster VO2 kinetics than SPRs (12.7 ±3.0 vs. 19.3 ± 5.6 s; p < 0.001). During the 1-min all-out test, ENDs presented slower tVO2peak than SPRs (40.6 ± 6.8 and 28.8 ± 6.4 s, respectively; p = 0.002) and had a similar VO2peak relative to the VO2max (88 ± 8 and 83 ± 6%, respectively; p = 0.157). Finally, SPRs was the only group that presented a VO2 decrease in the last half of the test (-1.8 ± 2.3 and 3.5 ±2.3 ml.kg-1.min-1, respectively; p < 0.001). In summary, SPRs have a faster VO2 response when maximum intensity is required and a high maximum intensity during all-out running exercise seems to lead to a higher decrease in VO2 in the last part of the exercise. Copyright: