The Effects of Different Training Backgrounds on VO(2) Responses to All-Out and Supramaximal Constant-Velocity Running Bouts

To investigate the impact of different training backgrounds on pulmonary oxygen uptake (V̇O(2)) responses during all-out and supramaximal constant-velocity running exercises, nine sprinters (SPRs) and eight endurance runners (ENDs) performed an incremental test for maximal aerobic velocity (MAV) assessment and two supramaximal running exercises (1-min all-out test and constant-velocity exercise). The V̇O(2) responses were continuously determined during the tests (K4(b2), Cosmed, Italy). A mono-exponential function was used to describe the V̇O(2) onset kinetics during constant-velocity test at 110%MAV, while during 1-min all-out test the peak of V̇O(2) (V̇O(2)peak), the time to achieve the V̇O(2)peak (tV̇O(2)peak) and the V̇O(2) decrease at last of the test was determined to characterize the V̇O(2) response. During constant-velocity exercise, ENDs had a faster V̇O(2) kinetics than SPRs (12.7 ± 3.0 vs. 19.3 ± 5.6 s; p < 0.001). During the 1-min all-out test, ENDs presented slower tV̇O(2)peak than SPRs (40.6 ± 6.8 and 28.8 ± 6.4 s, respectively; p = 0.002) and had a similar V̇O(2)peak relative to the V̇O(2)max (88 ± 8 and 83 ± 6%, respectively; p = 0.157). Finally, SPRs was the only group that presented a V̇O(2) decrease in the last half of the test (-1.8 ± 2.3 and 3.5 ± 2.3 ml.kg(-1).min(-1), respectively; p < 0.001). In summary, SPRs have a faster V̇O(2) response when maximum intensity is required and a high maximum intensity during all-out running exercise seems to lead to a higher decrease in V̇O(2) in the last part of the exercise.