Comparison of Maximum Oxygen Consumption (Vo2 Max) of Distance Runners

Physiological study in relation to exercise and actual physical demand during event is very important to critically understand physiological basis of performance. The fatigue causing factors workload, recovery pattern from fatigue etc. should be very specifically understood in real terms. Understanding this background, the research scholar took up research project to investigate in- depth and detailed Physiological responses of two Long distance running events 5000mts and 10.000mts. In this context an in depth investigations on Physiological basis of long distance runners is crucially important for high performance training implications. Research Scholar having gone through the critical

For the purpose of this study Heart rate, Respiratory rate and VO2 max. were chosen as the Indicators of physiological responses and fatigue of long distance

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belonging to 5000m and 10000m participated in All India Inter- University Athletic Competition. The age of the subject ranged between 18-25 years. An understanding of various physiological responses and recovery pattern is utmost necessity for understanding in depth about training as well as performance implications for long distance runners. The fact is that the selected physiological parameters provides basis for performance as well as are significant indicators of performance capacity. For assessing the Maximum Oxygen Consumption (VO2 max.) Cooper’s 12-minutes run/walk test was administered and the distance covered in 12-minutes was recorded and put in the formula to calculate the VO2 Max. in ml/kg/min. (VO2 max.)= (D12 -505)/45. where D12 = distance run in 12- minutes. In order to analyze the data descriptive statistics and independent- test was applied and level of significance was set at 0.05 level.

RESULTS

The mean and standard deviation for Heart rate for different experimental conditions are as follows: Pre-test (64.60 ± 8.28), Post-test (175.80 ± 11.68),; for Respiratory rate, Pre-test ( 15.10 ± 2.38), Post-test ( 35.30 ± 4.69; for VO2 max mean and standard deviation is 74.22 ± 2.04.

The descriptive statistics of Physiological responses and recovery pattern of 10,000 mts runners and the mean and standard deviation of all variables are presented below in Table- 2. The mean and standard deviation for heart rate for different experimental conditions are Pre-test (70.80 ± 5.90), Post-test (177.50 ± 11.97),; for respiratory rate, Pre-test ( 15.80 ± 2.10), Post-test ( 38.10 ± 3.35; for VO2 max mean and standard deviation is 75.56± 2.47.

From Table-3, it is evident that t-value is 1.32 which is not significant at 0.05 level with 18 degree of freedom. It indicates that mean scores of maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) of 5000 mts and 10,000 mts runners do not differ significantly.Thus, it implies statistically the difference between the mean scores of VO2 max of both the groups 74.22 and 75.56 were insignificant.

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The runners were compared on VO2 max. and no significant difference was observed between 5000mts and 10,000mts events, which signify maximum Oxygen (O2) consumption rate for both long distance event are of similar level or in other words the two events have more or less equal aerobic demands. The VO2 max. Analysis showed there is no significant difference between 5000mts and 10,000mts runners implying the two events in terms of their aerobic characteristic and maximal oxygen utilization (VO2 max.) of similar level. The VO2 max. values 74.4 and 75.6 ml/min/kg respectively found for 5000m and 10,000m runners are of significant higher level and it characterizes pre-dominance of aerobic energy system for 5000mts and 10,000mts events.The VO2 max. measured for 5000mts and 10,000mts runners is not having significant difference may be due to the fact that both are basically endurance based activity and normally possess very high amount of VO2 max. Earlier the concept of aerobic performance was that any long distance or endurance based activity was related to VO2 max. only. But, after the invention of anaerobic threshold level we know that high VO2 max. is not the only criteria for good performance in an endurance activity. According to modern concept of exercise Physiology and Bio-chemistry along with VO2 max., high level of anaerobic threshold of the runners is very vital.

CONCLUSIONS

1. The long distance running events like 5000mts and 10,000mts are not absolutely aerobic event. 2. The anaerobic proportion of Long distance running 5000mts and 10,000mts is of significant level and fatigue caused in these events are due to anaerobic glycolysis and lactate accumulation is also in significant proportion along with aerobic part of the activity. 3. A typical 5,000mts and 10,000mts events places workload demand intensity between 80-85% of maximum when observed in terms of heart rate at the end of the event. 4. The anaerobic lactate threshold of 5000mts and 10,000mts runners normally starts at 75-80% of VO2 max. 5. Heart rate assessment is one of the most effective and comprehensive method to examine load intensity, load factor or fatigue evaluation. David R. Lamb, (1983) Physiology of Exercise Responses and Adaptations, New York : Macmillan Company. Deborah A.Wuest and Charles A. Bucher. (1992) Foundation of Physical Education and Sports 11th ed., St. Louis: The C.V Mosby Company. Donn Kinzle, Practical Track Athletics (USA: the Ronald) Edward L Fox, Richard W. Bowers and Merle L. Foss, (1989) The Physiological Basis of Physical Education and Athletics (USA: Wim C. Brown publishers) Fox L. Edward, Bowers, W. Richards, Foss L. Merle, (1989) The physiological basis of physical education and athletics, Wim. C. Brown publishers, Iowa. Geoffry H.G. Dyson, (1973) The Mechanics of Athletics 7th ed., Cambridge: Hodder and Sloughten Ltd. The University of London press Ltd McArdle D. William, Katch I Frank and Katch L. Victor, (2001) Exercise Physiology, energy, nutrition and human performance, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 6th Ed. Plowman A. Sharon & Smith L. Denise, (2003) Exercise Physiology for Health, Fitness and Performance, Benjamin Cummings, 2nd Ed. Wilmore H. Jack and Costill L. David (2008), Physiology of Sports and Exercise, Human Kinetics