The aim of this study was to assess the validity of the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), the velocity at VO2max (vVO2max), time to exhaustion at vVO2max (Tlim), running economy (RE) and anaerobic threshold (AnT) to predict the aerobic performance of the endurance athletes. Fourteen well-trained long-distance runners (33.4 ± 4.4 yr.; 62.7 ± 4.3 kg; 166.1 ± 5.0 cm; VO2max = 60.4 ± 5.9 ml.kg-1.min-1) underwent the following tests: a) simulated competitions in the distances of 1500 and 5000 m and; b) laboratory treadmill tests to determine their VO2max, vVO2max, Tlim, EC and AnT. The velocities (km/h) at vVO2max (18.7 + 0.8), LAn (17.3 + 1.1) v1500 m (19.9 + 0.8) and v5000 m (17.9 + 0.9) were significantly different. A stepwise multiple-regression analysis revealed that AnT alone was the best single predictor of v-5000 m and explained 50% of the variability in 5000 m running velocity. For v1.500 m, Tlim and vVO2max explained 88 % of the variability of the performance. We conclude that, in a group of well-trained long-distance runners, the validity of the physiological indexes (VO2max, vVO2max, Tlim, EC e LAn) to predict the aerobic performance is dependent of the distance (1500 x 5000 m) analyzed.
Maximal oxygen uptake; Anaerobic threshold; Running; Aerobic performance
