ABSTRACT
To obtain a viewpoint concerning evaluation of endurance type of athletes, we investigated the difference in physiological responses between middle- and long-distance runners in an incremental running test. Measurements were VO<SUB>2</SUB>max and time of its appearance, change of VO<SUB>2</SUB> from 1.5 min before exhaustion to exhaustion (ΔVO<SUB>2</SUB>), heart rate (HR), and blood lactate after exhaustion.<BR>Results were as follows.<BR>(1) The time of VO<SUB>2</SUB> max appearance in the middle distance runners was earlier than in the long distance runners.<BR>(2) VO<SUB>2</SUB>max was significantly higher in the long distance runners than in the middle distance runners.<BR>(3) Blood lactate after exhaustion and HRmax were significantly higher in the middle distance runners than in the long distance runners.<BR>(4) Blood lactate after exhaustion was significantly related to ΔVO<SUB>2</SUB> (r =-0.660, P<0.05) .<BR>These findings suggest that the endurance type of athletes could be evaluated from the time of VO<SUB>2</SUB>max appearance, blood lactate after exhaustion and HRmax in incremental running, and that VO<SUB>2</SUB>max appearance may be effected by high blood lactate accumulation.