Sampling matters: the interplay of physiological parameters and performance over 1, 2 and 3 km in well-trained male endurance runners and sprinters
4 affiliations
- 1Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
- 2Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- 3Exercise Science, Coaching and Performance Enhancement (ESCAPE) Network, Cologne, Germany
- 4Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Abstract
Aim: To examine characteristics associated with running performance in heterogeneous and endurance-only samples of well-trained male runners.
Methods: Twenty well-trained (V̇O2max: 65.7 ± 5.5 ml·min-1·kg-1) male endurance runners (n=16) and sprinters (n=4), completed comprehensive laboratory testing and 100-m sprint as well as, 1-, 2-, and 3-km time-trials. Physiological markers included fractional utilization at maximal lactate steady-state (%V̇O2max), maximal fat oxidation rate (MFO), maximal lactate accumulation rate (ċLamax) and peak post-exercise lactate following the ramp test (LaRT). Hierarchical regression and bivariate correlations with Benjamini-Hochberg correction were used to examine performance associations and the influence of excluding sprinters.
Results: Baseline models (V̇O2max + running economy) explained <40% of 1000-m and >60% in 2000- and 3000-m performance in the pooled sample. MFO increased explained variance by 15.4% at 2000 m and +14.81% at 3000 m, while %V̇O2max added 11.3% at 3000 m. In the pooled sample, oxidative characteristics became more strongly associated with performance as distance increased, whereas several non-oxidative characteristics were positively associated with sprint performance and negatively associated with longer-distance performance. After excluding sprinters, associations of V̇O2max and MFO with 2000- and 3000-m performance were retained, whereas associations involving ċLamax and LaRT were attenuated. ASR remained negatively associated with 3000-m performance in both samples.
Conclusion: In well-trained male runners, associations between physiological characteristics and running performance depend on event distance and sample composition. Oxidative characteristics were particularly relevant to 2000- and 3000-m performance, whereas the apparent relevance of several non-oxidative characteristics partly reflected the inclusion of sprinters. These sampling-related findings require confirmation in larger, balanced cohorts.
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BibTeX
@article{sondermann2026sampling,
title = {{Sampling matters: the interplay of physiological parameters and performance over 1, 2 and 3 km in well-trained male endurance runners and sprinters}},
author = {Yannick M. Sondermann and Oliver J. Quittmann and Simon Nolte and Marco Fuchs and Gabriel Gehlert and Tina Foitschik and Thomas Abel},
journal = {Frontiers in Physiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fphys.2026.1912310},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2026.1912310},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Sampling matters: the interplay of physiological parameters and performance over 1, 2 and 3 km in well-trained male endurance runners and sprinters
AU - Yannick M. Sondermann
AU - Oliver J. Quittmann
AU - Simon Nolte
AU - Marco Fuchs
AU - Gabriel Gehlert
AU - Tina Foitschik
AU - Thomas Abel
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - Frontiers in Physiology
DO - 10.3389/fphys.2026.1912310
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2026.1912310
AB - Aim: To examine characteristics associated with running performance in heterogeneous and endurance-only samples of well-trained male runners. Methods: Twenty well-trained (V̇O2max: 65.7 ± 5.5 ml·min-1·kg-1) male endurance runners (n=16) and sprinters (n=4), completed comprehensive laboratory testing and 100-m sprint as well as, 1-, 2-, and 3-km time-trials. Physiological markers included fractional utilization at maximal lactate steady-state (%V̇O2max), maximal fat oxidation rate (MFO), maximal lactate accumulation rate (ċLamax) and peak post-exercise lactate following the ramp test (LaRT). Hierarchical regression and bivariate correlations with Benjamini-Hochberg correction were used to examine performance associations and the influence of excluding sprinters. Results: Baseline models (V̇O2max + running economy) explained <40% of 1000-m and >60% in 2000- and 3000-m performance in the pooled sample. MFO increased explained variance by 15.4% at 2000 m and +14.81% at 3000 m, while %V̇O2max added 11.3% at 3000 m. In the pooled sample, oxidative characteristics became more strongly associated with performance as distance increased, whereas several non-oxidative characteristics were positively associated with sprint performance and negatively associated with longer-distance performance. After excluding sprinters, associations of V̇O2max and MFO with 2000- and 3000-m performance were retained, whereas associations involving ċLamax and LaRT were attenuated. ASR remained negatively associated with 3000-m performance in both samples. Conclusion: In well-trained male runners, associations between physiological characteristics and running performance depend on event distance and sample composition. Oxidative characteristics were particularly relevant to 2000- and 3000-m performance, whereas the apparent relevance of several non-oxidative characteristics partly reflected the inclusion of sprinters. These sampling-related findings require confirmation in larger, balanced cohorts.
SN - 1664-042X
ER -