Abstract

This study describes a relationship between treadmill speed measured at the respiratory compensation threshold (ReT) and average running speed achieved in a competitive marathon 14-21 days later. The fine, cool weather conditions for the marathons under study neither favoured nor hindered marathon performance. Forty-seven athletes underwent an incremental treadmill test using a ramp slope of 0.25 km/hr per 30 seconds in the critical range of speeds below and above the ReT speed. Of the forty-four athletes who completed the marathon (average time of 3 hr:13 min, SEE = 6.6 min; range from 2 hr:18 min to 4 hr:58 min), 37 ran the full distance without walking; 30 of these had previously participated in at least 3 marathons. For the full group, marathon speed (km/hr) = 1.331 x ReT speed - 7.26 km/hr (r = 0.869, p < 0.001, n = 44). For the thirty experienced athletes (at least 3 previous marathons) who ran the full distance, marathon speed (km/hr) = 1.55 x ReT speed - 3.84 km/hr (r = 0.934, p < 0.001, n = 30). The heterogenity of the group provided for the post hoc observations that the elite runners (less than 2 hr:30 min) were able to complete the distance at higher percentages of both ReT pace and VO2max (96 +/- 4 and 86 +/- 3, respectively) compared to the group that averaged 4 hr (71 +/- 9 and 65 +/- 8, respectively). These results can be used in future to predict marathon performance based on a non-invasive gas exchange treadmill test, particularly if factors such as competitive experience and weather conditions are also considered. Verf.-Referat