Estimation of accumulated oxygen deficit from accumulated blood lactate concentration during supramaximal running in middle-distance runners

The maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD), which is the gold standard for anaerobic energy metabolism capacity, requires multiple tests for evaluation that impose a heavy load on subjects. The maximal accumulated blood lactate (ΔbLa) concentration is also a measure of anaerobic energy metabolism capacity, and is related to the accumulated oxygen deficit (AOD). Thus, AOD has been estimated by using ΔbLa (3.0 mLO2 · kg−1 ·mM−1), but it is unclear if this coefficient is suitable for measurement of supramaximal running of athletes. The purpose of this study was to clarify the estimated expression of AOD by using ΔbLa from the relationship between MAOD and ΔbLa during supramaximal running in middle-distance runners. Eleven male middle-distance runners (800m running velocity: 425.3 ± 7.3 m·min−1) took part in this study. They performed three running tests (maximal, submaximal and supramaximal running test) to evaluate MAOD and ΔbLa. MAOD and ΔbLa were 56.6 ± 6.0 mLO2 · kg−1 and 9.9 ± 1.1 mmol ·L−1, respectively. We observed a significant positive relationship between MAOD and ΔbLa (r = 0.73); the regression line equation was y = 3.58x + 18.6. Results showed that the AOD per mM of the ΔbLa of athletes was 3.58 mLO2 · kg−1, which was 19% higher than the conventional coefficient value.