Modeling a two-mile run age and body weight handicap for men and women.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a weight and age handicap model for Two-Mile Run Test (2MRT) performance for adult men and women using dimensional analysis and recent empirical data.


METHODS
Models of the body composition- and physical activity-adjusted effect of age on VO2max and the allometric model of body size and 5 K run time for men and women (adjusted for the 2MRT distance) were employed.


RESULTS
Two tables were developed, one for each gender. Each provides a simple index (sec) of run time based on body weight and age, that are subtracted from actual 2MRT time to yield adjusted run time.


CONCLUSIONS
Such a handicap model, which grants a handicap based only on the independent effects of age and weight (not fatness or lack of physical conditioning, for example), is the first to be based on physiologically sound theory and empirical data. It may prove useful for military fitness testing particularly in situations where higher achievement is rewarded and/or control for age and weight differences in warranted.
Vanderburgh
P M
PM
Health and Sport Science Department, University of Dayton, OH 45469-1210, USA. vanderbu@yar.udayton.edu
Laubach
L L
LL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012420:Running; D012737:Sex Factors