title: Effect of performance level on pacing strategy during a 10-km running race.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the performance level of athletes on pacing strategy during a simulated 10-km running race, and the relationship between physiological variables and pacing strategy. Twenty-four male runners performed an incremental exercise test on a treadmill, three 6-min bouts of running at 9, 12 and 15 km h(-1), and a self-paced, 10-km running performance trial; at least 48 h separated each test. Based on 10-km running performance, subjects were divided into terziles, with the lower terzile designated the low-performing (LP) and the upper terzile designated the high-performing (HP) group. For the HP group, the velocity peaked at 18.8 +/- 1.4 km h(-1) in the first 400 m and was higher than the average race velocity (P < 0.05). The velocity then decreased gradually until 2,000 m (P < 0.05), remaining constant until 9,600 m, when it increased again (P < 0.05). The LP group ran the first 400 m at a significantly lower velocity than the HP group (15.6 +/- 1.6 km h(-1); P > 0.05) and this initial velocity was not different from LP average racing velocity (14.5 +/- 0.7 km h(-1)). The velocity then decreased non-significantly until 9,600 m (P > 0.05), followed by an increase at the end (P < 0.05). The peak treadmill running velocity (PV), running economy (RE), lactate threshold (LT) and net blood lactate accumulation at 15 km h(-1) were significantly correlated with the start, middle, last and average velocities during the 10-km race. These results demonstrate that high and low performance runners adopt different pacing strategies during a 10-km race. Furthermore, it appears that important determinants of the chosen pacing strategy include PV, LT and RE.
authors.affiliation: Sports Science Research Group, Federal University of Alagoas, Alagoas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriano E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Lima-Silva
authors.forename: Romulo C M
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bertuzzi
authors.forename: Flavio O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Ronaldo V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: João F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gagliardi
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bishop
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014142:Track and Field; D055815:Young Adult