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Intermittent short-term graded running performance in middle-distance runners in hypobaric hypoxia

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Abstract

This study investigated whether in trained middle-distance runners, intermittent short-term graded running performance is affected by a hypobaric hypoxic environment (simulated 2,500 m) (H). Seven male middle-distance runners performed an aerobic performance test and an intermittent short-term graded anaerobic running-performance test (MART) both in H and in a normobaric normoxic environment (N). VO2max and OBLA were markedly lower (by 18.1% and 8.7%, respectively) in H than in N. In MART, neither maximal running velocity (Vmax) nor exhaustion-time was different between N and H (454 (7) m min−1 vs. 451 (6) m min−1, respectively, and 208.7 (5.2) s vs. 205.7 (4.2) s, respectively). The blood lactate concentration at sub-maximal running speed (425 m min−1) was significantly greater in H than in N (paired t-test: P<0.05). These results suggest that, in trained middle-distance runners, intermittent short-term graded running performance is not affected by H, despite a considerable decrease in aerobic power in H during the aerobic performance test.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the University of Tsukuba track-and-field middle distance team for participation in this study as subjects. We also greatly appreciate the help of Dr. Robert Timms (English editing and critical comments). This study was supported by grants from University of Tsukuba Research Projects, COE projects, and the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture, Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Health and Sports Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, 305-8574, Japan

    Takeshi Ogawa, Yoshiharu Nabekura, Jun Nagai, Keiji Hayashi, Hiroyuki Wada & Takeshi Nishiyasu

  2. Ohita National College of Technology, Ohita, Japan

    Keiichi Ohba

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  1. Takeshi Ogawa
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  2. Keiichi Ohba
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  3. Yoshiharu Nabekura
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  4. Jun Nagai
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  5. Keiji Hayashi
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  6. Hiroyuki Wada
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  7. Takeshi Nishiyasu
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Correspondence to Takeshi Nishiyasu.

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Ogawa, T., Ohba, K., Nabekura, Y. et al. Intermittent short-term graded running performance in middle-distance runners in hypobaric hypoxia. Eur J Appl Physiol 94, 254–261 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-005-1322-7

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