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Influence of running pace upon performance: Effects upon treadmill endurance time and oxygen cost

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Summary

Three possible patterns of pacing (type 1, fast/slow; type 2, slow/fast; and type 3, steady rate) were compared over a 1400 m, 4 min run. The subsequent running time to exhaustion at 370 m·min−1 was significantly longer with a type 1 than with a type 2 protocol (P<0.05). The steady rate pattern gave results intermediate between type 1 and type 2 pacing. Data for oxygen debt and recovery heart rate confirmed the superiority of type 1 pacing. Possible explanations included (1) a reduction of inefficient anaerobic work, and (2) a greater mechanical efficiency associated with the better matching of required effort to a tapering physiological power. Runners should aim at a steady physiological rather than a steady physical load.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Exercise Physiology, Tokyo Gakugei College, Coganei-City, Tokyo, Japan

    M. Ariyoshi

  2. Laboratory for Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Education, Toyama University, Toyama, Japan

    K. Yamaji

  3. Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    R. J. Shephard

Authors
  1. M. Ariyoshi
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  2. K. Yamaji
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  3. R. J. Shephard
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Ariyoshi, M., Yamaji, K. & Shephard, R.J. Influence of running pace upon performance: Effects upon treadmill endurance time and oxygen cost. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 41, 83–91 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421655

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421655

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