Muscle power factors and VO2max as determinants of horizontal and uphill running performance

This study was carried out to investigate the importance of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and so-called muscle power factors relating to neuromuscula r and anaerobic characteristics as determinants of peak horizontal and uphi ll treadmill running velocity (V-max), Muscle power factors were measured a s peak velocity (V-MART) and blood lactate concentration (Bla(MART)) in a m aximal anaerobic running test and as maximal 30-m run velocity (V-30m) Seve n middle-distance runners, eight triathletes and eight cross-country skiers performed an incremental VO2max-test at horizontal (subscript max0) and 7 degrees uphill (subscript max7) and the MART at 3 degrees uphill on a tread mill and V-30m-test on a track. The MART consisted of n . 20-s runs with a 100-s recovery between the runs and the velocity was increased by 0.41 m . s(-1) for each consecutive run until exhaustion, At 0 degrees V-max was sig nificantly higher but VO2max, ventilation and Bla were significantly lower than at 7 degrees inclination, V-max0 correlated with V-MART (r=0.85. P<0.0 01), Bla(max0) (r=0.49, P<0.05) and V-30m (r=0.78, P<0.001) but not with VO 2max0. V-max7 correlated with VO2max7 (r=0.78, P<0.001), V-MART (r=0.61, P< 0.01) and V-30m (r=0.53, P<0.05). V-MART correlated with Bla(MART) (r=0.71, P<0.01) and V30m (r=0.96, P<0.001) but not with VO2max0 or VO2max7. Middle -distance runners had a significantly (P<0.001) higher V-max0, V-MART Bla(M ART) and V-30m than triathletes and cross-country skiers, but no significan t differences were found between the three groups in VO2max0, VO2max7 or V- max7 We conclude that so-called muscle power factors, e.g. V-MART, V-30m an d Bla(MART) contribute to peak treadmill running performance and especially to horizontal running performance and that VO2max contributes more to uphi ll than horizontal running performance.