INTRODUCTION: Kenyan middle and long-distance runners have become a major research interest over the past years and even more recently with the new flood of world records in such events since 2016 [1-3]. Such performances depend on three main physiological factors: an athletes` maximal oxygen uptake or VO2max; their ability to sustain a high percentage of that VO2max for long periods of time; and an athletes` ability to move efficiently at submaximal speeds, representing a good running economy [4,5]. While the first two factors respond to training, technological advances such as new running shoes can improve running efficiency [3,6]. The aim of this study was to measure the VO2max and running economy on a lab treadmill in world-class Kenyan distance runners at two different intensities. We then compared this data to the literature in an attempt to explain the recent flurry of world records. METHODS: Seven world-class male Kenyan runners (age: 22.7 ± 3.2 years; weight: 59.9 ± 4.8 kg; height: 174 ± 5 cm) who had an official mean personal record for the half-marathon of 59:30 ± 0:48 min:s, and a 10 km personal best of 27:33 ± 0:41 min:s) were recruited and completed maximal and submaximal laboratory-based tests (adidas AG, Herzogenaurach, Germany). Assessments included a maximal rate of oxygen uptake test and submaximal steady state running economy trials on a treadmill related to both marathon (75% vVO2max) and 10km pace (90% vVO2max) during three separate visits. RESULTS: The measured VO2max of the world-class runners was 75.9 ± 3.5 mL/kg/min which can be classified into the top range of values found in previously published literature for a similar population, which overall ranged from 60.7-85.3 mL/kg/min with an average of 71.9 mL/kg/min [7,8]. The submaximal running economy showed large inter-subject variability and at 75% vVO2max was 192.3 ± 8.1 mL/kg/km or 54.5 ± 2.0 mL/kg/min, and at 90% vVO2max was 184.1 ± 10.1 mL/kg/km or 61.9 ± 3.3 mL/kg/min, both of which are in the middle of the range of previously reported values for a similar population [9]. CONCLUSION: This study found the obtained physiological values from world-class runners to be in line with those already published suggesting the recent improvements leading to a new flood of world records might not be physiological, but other factors such as novel shoe designs may play an important role in terms of running economy as previously suggested [3,10].
© Copyright 2022 27th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Sevilla, 30. Aug - 2. Sep 2022. Julkaistu Tekijä Faculty of Sport Science - Universidad Pablo de Olavide. Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään. / Kääntänyt https://www.DeepL.com/Translator