Maximum aerobic speed, maximum oxygen consumption, and running spatiotemporal parameters during an incremental test among middle- and long-distance runners and endurance non-running athletes

Background Maximal aerobic speed (MAS) is a useful parameter to assess aerobic capacity and estimate training intensity in middle- and long-distance runners. However, whether middle- and long-distance runners reach different levels of MAS compared to other endurance athletes with similar V̇O 2max has not been previously studied. Therefore, we aimed to compare V̇O 2max , MAS and spatiotemporal parameters between sub-elite middle- and long-distance runners ( n = 6) and endurance non-runners ( n = 6). In addition, we aimed to compare the maximal blood lactate concentration [BLa] experienced by participants after conducting these tests. Methods Telemetric portable respiratory gas analysis, contact and flight time, and stride length and rate were measured using a 5-m contact platform during an incremental test at a synthetic athletics track. V̇O 2 , heart rate, respiratory quotient values in any 15 s average period during the test were measured. [BLa] was analyzed after the test . Running spatiotemporal parameters were recorded at the last two steps of each 400 m lap. A coefficient of variation (%CV) was calculated for each spatiotemporal variable in each participant from 8 km h −1 onwards. Results Whereas runners reported faster MAS (21.0 vs. 18.2 km h −1 ) than non-runners ( p = 0.0001, ES = 3.0), no differences were found for V̇O 2max and maximum blood lactate concentration during the running tests (p > 0.05). While significant increases in flight time and stride length and frequency (p < 0.001, 0.52 ≤ η ₚ² ≤ 0.8) were observed throughout the tests, decreases in contact time (p < 0.001, η ₚ²=0.9) were reported. Runners displayed a greater %CV ( p = 0.015) in stride length than non-runners. We conclude that middle- and long-distance runners can achieve a faster MAS compared to non-running endurance athletes despite exhibiting a similar V̇O 2max . This superior performance may be associated to a greater mechanical efficiency. Overall, runners displayed a greater ability to modify stride length to achieve fast speeds, which may be related to a more mechanically efficient pattern of spatiotemporal parameters than non-runners.