Performance and running economy of endurance runners in relation with fat oxidation and blood count

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to extend the knowledge of running economy in endurance disciplines and its dependence on fat oxidation and selected blood parameters. The investigated group consisted of 11 elite endurance runners (n=11; 27,25 ± 2,77 years, body height: 182 ± 5,3 cm, body mass 73,9 ± 3,9 and BMI: 22,3 ± 1 kg.m-2 ). An incremental treadmill test was performed where we evaluated the running economy (oxygen cost) and fat oxidation. The performance in 10 km run was also evaluated during a race taking place in a period before the treadmill test and the blood draw. The dependence of running economy on fat oxidation and selected blood parameters was analysed using the Spearman´s correlation coefficient (r). We found a correlation between fat oxidation and 10 km run performance (r = -0,68 p < 0,05 high dependence). There was no statistical significance found between running economy and 10 km average race pace, however there was a significantly lower decrease in fat oxidation observed on the treadmill test in between the speeds 16-18,5 km/h in the group of faster runners (n= 5) in a comparison with slower runners (n= 6) (47,94 % ± 29,64 vs 90,73 ± 10,15; 14,21%; p ≤ 0,05) within the observed group. There was found no significance when observing the dependence of running economy on the selected blood parameters.