Analysis of Maximal Oxygen Uptake in Athletes Participating in a 10 km Street Race.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), the velocity of VO2max (vVO2max) and the calculation of the percentage of the VO2max supported during a race of athletes (sVO2max) of athletes who participated in the street race of 10 km 22 de Agosto, utilizing it to predict the performance and to relate it to the respective time and place of the individual in the race. 7 individuals were analyzed, all of them were athletes that had participated in the race with the average age of 28,42 ± 9,07 years old and average weight of 63 ± 7,07 kg, that fulfilled the Ribilsk & Kochodorian test race of 3200 meters to estimate the VO2max, having obtained an average of 64,24 ± 6,12 ml/kg.min. The vVo2max average was 18.35 ± 1.75 km / h, the average speed of the race was 16.78 ± 1.70 km / h, the average speed of the test was 18.33 ± 2.04 km / h, and sVO2max was 91.61 ± 7.05%. The results show a decrease of the VO2max proportionally in relation to the time increase of the race, existing also a high correlation between the pace level of the race and the pace level of the test (0,90). The race was performed with an average of 91.61% of the VO2max, being these values near to those found by Péronnet & Thibauld, mentioned by Tubino & Moreira (1987). We can conclude that the VO2max can be good to predict performance in the 10 km race, however other variables, such as the anaerobic threshold, should be considered in the attempt to explain some changes of the performance especially in heterogeneous groups. Considering these results, new researches should be developed for a greater validity in the predictor of the distance performance studied.