The distance-time relationship over a century of running Olympic performances: A limit on the critical speed concept.

We analyse the evolution of the slope (critical speed) and the y-intercept (anaerobic distance capacity) of the linear distance-time relationship over a century of Olympic running performances. The distance-time relationship of each Olympic Games (1920-2004) was plotted using the performances in the 800-, 1500- and 5000-m track events. Values for critical speed and anaerobic distance capacity were determined by linear modelling. Mean performances for the 800, 1500 and 5000 m were 104.9 +/- 1.5 s (1.4%), 217.2 +/- 2.8 s (1.3%) and 808.9 +/- 18.4 s (2.3%), respectively. Critical speed improved during the first three-quarters of the twentieth century to reach a plateau in 1984. This is in accordance with the literature (Peronnet & Thibault, 1989) and suggests that "human aerobic endurance" has improved within the century (+13.4%) and tends to stabilize. Anaerobic distance capacity was highly variable over the century (coefficient of variation = 9.4%) and did not show a linear improvement over the years as has previously been suggested (Peronnet & Thibault, 1989). This could be due to an artefact in the application of the two-parameter model to only three Olympic performances. A limitation to the use of this linear mathematical model to fit physiological data may have been demonstrated.

Preferred pedal rate: an index of cycling performance.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether preferred pedal rate (PPR) could be used as an index of cycling performance. Thirteen competitive cyclists cycled at PPR during a graded test and a supra-threshold constant power test (CPT). The results showed that PPR values reported in CPT were correlated to both peak power determined from the graded test and exhaustion time assessed in CPT. Furthermore, multiple regression revealed that PPR values and P (peak) were two predictors of exhaustion time in CPT. Hence, this study suggests that coaches and sports scientists have to take into account PPR values complementary to P (peak) in order to evaluate the capacity of cycling performance.

Stroking parameters in front crawl swimming and maximal lactate steady state speed.

In order to increase or maintain speed at sub-maximal intensities, well-trained swimmers have an increase in their stroke rate, thus a decrease in their stroke. The purposes of this study were i) to ascertain whether the maximal speed from which the stroke length decreases significantly (SSLdrop) corresponds to the maximal lactate steady state swimming speed (SMLSS), and ii) to examine the effect of the exercise duration on the stroking parameters above, below, and at SMLSS. Eleven male well-trained swimmers performed an all-out 400-m front crawl test to estimate maximal aerobic speed (MAS) and four sub-maximal 30-min tests (75, 80, 85, and 90 % MAS) to determine SMLSS and SSLdrop and to analyse the evolution of the stroking parameters throughout these tests. SMLSS (88.9 +/- 3.3 % MAS) and SSLdrop (87.3 +/- 4.5 % MAS) were not significantly different from each other (p=0.41) and were highly correlated (r=0.88; p <0.001). Moreover, a slight stroke rate increase, and a stroke length decrease, were observed above S (MLSS) but were only significant for the 5 swimmers unable to maintain this speed for 30 min (p >0.05). During the 30-min tests swum below and at SMLSS, a steady state of stroking parameters was statistically reported. Thus, SMLSS seems to represent not only a physiological transition threshold between heavy and severe sub-maximal intensities but also a biomechanical boundary beyond which the stroke length becomes compromised.