VO2max estimation from a submaximal 1-mile track jog for fit college-age individuals

GEORGE, J. D., P. R. VEHRS, P. E. ALLSEN, G. W. FELLINGHAM, and A. G. FISHER. VO2max estimation from a submaximal l-mile track jog for fit college-age individuals. Med. Sci, Sports Exerc., Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 401–406, 1993. The primary purpose of this study was to develop a submaximal field test for the estimation of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) using a 1-mile track jog. A second purpose was to determine the accuracy of the 1.5-mile run in estimating VO2max for both male and female subjects. VO2max was measured in 149 relatively fit college students (males = 88, females = 61) 18–29 yr using a treadmill protocol (mean ± SD; VO2max = 47.7 ± 6.3 ml.kg-1. Mii-1). Multiple regression analysis (N= 54) to estimate VO2max from the submaximal, steady-state 1-mile track jog yielded the following validation (V) model (radj = 0.87, SEE = 3.0 ml.kg-1 -min-1): VO2max = 100.5 + 8.344 * GENDER (0 = female; 1 = male) - 0.1636 * BODY MASS (kg) - 1.438 * JOG TIME (min-mile-1) - 0.1928 * HEART RATE (bpm). To help ensure that a submaximal level of exertion was realized for the 1-mile track jog, elapsed jog time was restricted to ≥8.0 min for males and ≥9.0 min for females and exercise HR to ≤180 bpm. Cross-validation (CV) of the 1-mile track jog comparing observed and estimated VO2max (N = 52) resulted in radj = 0.84, SEE = 3.1 ml.kg-1. Min-1. Multiple regression analysis (N = 50) to estimate VO2max from the 1.5-mile run (V: N = 49, radj = 0.90, SEE = 2.8 ml-kg-1·min-1; CV: N = 47, radj = 0.82, SEE = 3.9 ml.kg-1 min-1 ), used elapsed run time, body mass, and gender as independent variables. The results indicate that a submaximal 1-mile track jog can accurately predict VO2max and is a viable alternative to maximal performance tests such as the 1.5-mile run.