Impact of a Submaximal Warm-Up on Endurance Performance in Highly Trained and Competitive Male Runners

摘要

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of a submaximal running warm-up on running performance in male endurance athletes (n = 16, M-age = 21 +/- 2 years, MVO(2)max = 69.3 +/- 5.1 mL/kg/min). Method: Endurance performance was determined by a 30-min distance trial after control and submaximal running warm-up conditions in a randomized crossover fashion. The warm-up began with 5 min of quiet sitting, followed by 6 min of submaximal running split into 2-min intervals at speeds corresponding to 45%, 55%, and 65% maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2)max). A 2-min walk at 3.2 km/hr concluded the 13-min warm-up protocol. For the control condition, participants sat quietly for 13 min. VO2 and heart rate (HR) were determined at Minutes 0, 5, and 13 of the pre-exercise protocol in each condition. Results: At the end of 13 min prior to the distance trial, mean VO2 (warm-up = 14.1 +/- 2.2 mL/kg/min vs. control = 5.5 +/- 1.7 mL/kg/min) and mean HR (warm-up = 105 +/- 11 bpm vs. control = 67 +/- 11 bpm) were statistically greater (p,.001) in the warm-up condition compared with the control condition. The distance run did not statistically differ (p =.37) between the warm-up (7.8 +/- 0.5 km) and control (7.7 +/- 0.6 km) conditions; however, effect size calculation revealed a small effect (d = 0.2) in favor of the warm-up condition. Thus, the warm-up employed may have important and practical implications to determine placing among highlevel athletes in close races. Conclusions: These findings suggest a submaximal running warm-up may have a small but critical effect on a 30-min distance trial in competitive endurance athletes. Further, the warm-up elicited increases in physiological variables VO2 and HR prior to performance; thus, a submaximal specific warm-up should warrant consideration.