The predictability of anaerobic threshold (AT) from maximal aerobic power, distance running performance, chronological age, and total running distance achieved on the treadmill (TRD) was investigated in a sample of 53 male distance runners, 17-23 yr of age. The dependent variable, oxygen uptake (VO₂) at which the AT was detected (i.e., VO₂ @AT), was determined during an incremental treadmill test in which a series of eight or nine running bouts (with an initial velocity of 160, 180, or 200 m・min⁻¹) was administered until exhaustion. VO₂ @AT was defined as the V0₂ at which blood lactate concentration exhibited a systematic increase above a resting base-line value and was detected from the individual plots of blood lactate concentration versus treadmill velocity. A regression analysis of the data indicated VO₂ @AT could be predicated from the following four measurements with a multiple R=0.831 and a standard error of estimate of 2.66ml・min⁻¹・kg⁻¹: VO₂max (67.9±5.7ml・min⁻¹・kg⁻¹), 1,500-m running performance (245.5±14.2s), TRD (6.82±1.13km), and age (19.4±2.2yr). When independent variables were limited to VO₂max (X₁) and 1,500-m running performance (X₂) for simpler assessment, a multiple R=0.806 and a standard error of estimate of 2.76ml・min-¹・kg-¹ were computed. A useful prediction equation with this predictive accuracy was considered to be VO₂ @AT=0.386X₁-0.128X₂+57.11. To determine if the predication equation developed for the 53 distance runners could be generalized to other sample, cross-validation of the equation was tested, using 21 different distance runners, 17-22 yr of age. A high correlation (R=0.927) was obtained between VO₂ @AT predicted from the above equation and directly measured VO₂ @AT. It is concluded that the generalized equation may be applicable to young distance runners for indirect assessment of VO₂ @AT.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.6/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE