SPECIFICITY EFFECTS OF RUN VERSUS CYCLE TRAINING ON VENTILATORY THRESHOLD

This study compared the effects of 9 weeks of run (RT) versus cycle (C T) training on ventilatory threshold (Th(v)) determined during treadmi ll (TM) and cycle ergometer (CE) graded exercise testing. Sixteen coll ege age men were assigned to a RT or CT group and performed a TM and a CE test before and after training. Both training groups performed sim ilar training protocols which initially consisted of continuous exerci se 4 days-week-1 at 75-80% maximum heart rate (f(c,max)) for 45 min. T raining intensity was later increased to 80-85% f(c,max) and interval training (90-95% f(c,max)) was incorporated 2 days.week-1 into the con tinuous training. Both groups showed significantly improved maximal ox ygen consumption (VO2max) on both TM and CE tests (P<0.01) with no sig nificant differences between the groups. Significant Th, increases (P< 0.05) were found on TM tests for RT (n=8) and CT (n=8) groups [mean (S D); 443 (438) and 373 (568) ml O2.min-1, respectively] with no differe nce between the groups. Results from the CE tests revealed a significa nt Th(v) increase (P<0.01) for the CT group [566 (663) ml O2.min-1] wi th no change for the RT group. The Th(v) improvement noted for the RT group was significantly different (P<0.05) comparing CE with TM tests but not for the CT group. The results indicate that CT and RT improvem ent in Th(v) for runners is dependent upon mode of training and testin g, and there is an apparent dissociation of VO2max and Th(v) specific to training.