Aerobic Responses of Young Boys to Submaximal Running

Two groups of 8-year-old males were studied. One group (good runners) consisted of subjects who placed above the median on 5-, 7-, and 9-minute runs; a second group (poor runners) represented children who placed below the median on the same three runs. The aerobic responses of these subjects were determined for submaximal treadmill running at speeds of 134, 154, and 174m· min^–1. Maximal aerobic power and maximal running speed were also measured. At common submaximal speeds the good runners used smaller proportions of both their maximal running speed and their maximal aerobic power. Estimations of the aerobic demands of a 9-minute run suggest that in 8-year-old males better distance runners (a) possess a faster maximal sprint speed, yet perform distance runs at higher percentage of their maximal speed; (b) require more O₂ to sustain this pace; and (c) perform at a higher percentage of their maximal aerobic power than do distance runners of poorer ability.