Int J Sports Med 1988; 09(5): 306-309
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1025028
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Lactate, Respiratory Compensation Thresholds, and Distance Running Performance in Runners of Both Sexes

K. Iwaoka, H. Hatta, Y. Atomi, M. Miyashita
  • Laboratory for Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics, Faculty of Education, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, and Department of Sports Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153, Japan
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Publication History

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

Abstract

To examine the possible gender differences in lactate threshold (LT) and respiratory compensation threshold (RCT) and their relations to running performance, ten male and eight female college distance runners performed an incremental running test on the level treadmill. Both groups of runners were matched as closely as possible on the basis of maximal aerobic power relative to lean body mass (V̇O2max·LBM-1). LT1, determined from an inflection point in blood lactate, was significantly higher in males than in females (49.2 vs 45.5 ml·kg-1 LBM·minP < 0.05), while RCT, determined from a marked increase in ventilatory equivalent for CO2(V̇E-V̇CO2 -1) , was not significantly different between the two groups (51.5 vs 52.3 ml·kg-1LBM·min-1). No significant difference was observed either in LT or in RCT expressed as%V̇O2max. RCT and running velocity at RCT were strongly related to the run times of 800 and 1500 m in females and 5000 and 10000m in males (r = -0.76∼-0.95; P < 0.05 -0.001), while it was not the case with V-O2max and LT. These results suggest that there are no remarkable gender differences in LT and RCT when compared in relative terms and that RCT is a sensitive parameter for evaluating an endurance performance despite its controversial status.