Abstract
Time-trials represent an ecologically valid approach to assessment of endurance performance. Such information
is useful in the application of testing protocols and estimation of sample sizes required for research/magnitude based
inference methods. The present study aimed to investigate the intra-subject variability of 5 km time-trial running
performance in trained runners. Six competitive trained male runners (age = 33.8 ± 10.1 years; stature = 1.78 ± 0.01 m;
body mass = 69.0 ± 10.4 kg, V̇O2max = 62.6 ± 11.0 ml·kg·min-1) completed an incremental exercise test to volitional
exhaustion followed by 5 x 5 km time-trials (including a familiarisation trial), individually spaced by 48 hours. The
time taken to complete each trial, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion and speed were all assessed. Intra-subject
absolute standard error of measurement and the coefficient of variance were calculated for time-trial variables in
addition to the intra-class correlation coefficient for time taken to complete the time-trial. For the primary measure time,
results showed a coefficient of variation score across all participants of 1.5 ± 0.59% with an intra-class correlation
coefficient score of 0.990. Heart rate, rating of perceived exertion and speed data showed a variance range between 0.8
and 3.05%. It was concluded that when compared with related research, there was observed low intra-subject variability
in trained runners over a 5 km distance. This supports the use of this protocol for 5 km time-trial performance for
assessment of nutritional strategies, ergogenic aids or training interventions on endurance running performance.
is useful in the application of testing protocols and estimation of sample sizes required for research/magnitude based
inference methods. The present study aimed to investigate the intra-subject variability of 5 km time-trial running
performance in trained runners. Six competitive trained male runners (age = 33.8 ± 10.1 years; stature = 1.78 ± 0.01 m;
body mass = 69.0 ± 10.4 kg, V̇O2max = 62.6 ± 11.0 ml·kg·min-1) completed an incremental exercise test to volitional
exhaustion followed by 5 x 5 km time-trials (including a familiarisation trial), individually spaced by 48 hours. The
time taken to complete each trial, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion and speed were all assessed. Intra-subject
absolute standard error of measurement and the coefficient of variance were calculated for time-trial variables in
addition to the intra-class correlation coefficient for time taken to complete the time-trial. For the primary measure time,
results showed a coefficient of variation score across all participants of 1.5 ± 0.59% with an intra-class correlation
coefficient score of 0.990. Heart rate, rating of perceived exertion and speed data showed a variance range between 0.8
and 3.05%. It was concluded that when compared with related research, there was observed low intra-subject variability
in trained runners over a 5 km distance. This supports the use of this protocol for 5 km time-trial performance for
assessment of nutritional strategies, ergogenic aids or training interventions on endurance running performance.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 139-146 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Human Kinetics |
| Volume | 57 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 22 Jun 2017 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2017 |