Summary
Muscle biopsy samples were obtained from the gastrocnemius of 26 well-trained runners of widely varying ability. Portions of the sample were analyzed for succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity and for muscle fiber composition. \(\dot V\)O2 max was determined during uphill treadmill running. Mean values for muscle SDH activity (14.6 U/g), fiber composition (55% slow twitch) and \(\dot V\)O2 max (60.9 ml/kg×min−1) were lower than reported previously for groups of elite and sub-elite runners. The physiological data were consistent with the performance ability of the sample [5∶12, 11∶20 and 36∶40 (min∶s) for 1, 2 and 6 miles, respectively]. Within the sample, performance was most strongly related to \(\dot V\)O2 max (r=−0.84, −0.87 and −0.88 for 1, 2, and 6 miles). There was little relationship between muscle SDH activity and either performance (r=−0.11, −0.14, −0.20 for 1, 2, and 6 miles) or \(\dot V\)O2 max (r=0.23). The relationship between muscle fiber composition and performance was only modestly strong (r=−0.52, −0.54, −0.55 for 1, 2, and 6 miles). The results indicate that the primary determinant of cross-sectional differences in running performance is \(\dot V\)O2 max. Skeletal muscle metabolism apparently contributes little to these cross-sectional differences and may be of much greater importance to variations in performance within an individual.
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Foster, C., Costill, D.L., Daniels, J.T. et al. Skeletal muscle enzyme activity, fiber composition and \(\dot V\)O2 max in relation to distance running performance. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 39, 73–80 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421711
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421711