| Abstract: | The predictability of anaerobic threshold (AT) from maximal aerobic power, distance running performance, chronological age, and total running distance achieved on the treadmill (TRD) was investigated in a sample of 53 male distance runners, 17-23 years of age. The dependent variable was oxygen uptake (Vo2) at which AT was detected (i.e. Vo2 @ AT). A regression analysis of the data indicated Vo2 @ AT could be predicted from the following four measurements with a multiple R = 0.831 and a standard error of the estimate of 2.66 ml . min-1 . kg-1: Vo2max (67.9 +/- 5.7 ml . min-1 . kg-1), 1,500-m running performance (254.5 +/- 14.2 s), TRD (6.82 +/- 1.13 km), and age (19.4 +/- 2.2 years). When independent variables were limited to Vo2max (X1) and 1,500-m running performance (X2) for simpler assessment, a multiple R = 0.806 and a standard error of the estimate of 2.76 ml . min-1 . kg-1 were computed. A useful prediction equation with this predictive accuracy was considered to be Vo2 @ AT = 0.386X1 - 0.128X2 + 57.11. To determine if the prediction equation developed for the 53 male distance runners could be generalized to other samples, cross-validation of the equation was tested, using 21 different distance runners, 17-22 years of age. A high correlation (R = 0.927) was obtained between Vo2 AT predicted from the above equation and directly measured Vo2 @ AT. It is concluded that the generalized equation may be applicable to young distance runners for indirect assessment of Vo2 @ AT. |
