title: Oxygen uptake, velocity at lactate threshold, and running economy in elite special forces.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the correlation of peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak), velocity at lactate threshold (V(LT)), and running economy (RE) in a group of Special Force Squad members.
  
  
  METHODS
  VO2 peak, V(LT), and RE of 120 male elite special force police squad members (VO2 peak, 57.4 +/- 4.3 mL minute(-1) kg(-1); age, 28.9 +/- 5.2 years; body mass index, 24.2 +/- 1.6 kg m(-2)) were tested using an incremental treadmill protocol (2.4 m second(-1), increase 0.4 m second(-1) every 5 minutes). Running velocities at the first lactate inflection point (V(LT)) and blood lactate concentration at 4 mmol L(-1) (V4) were determined. RE was defined as oxygen uptake in mL kg(-1) minute(-1) at 3.2 m second(-1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis revealed little or no correlation between V4, V(LT), VO2 peak, and RE (r = 0.02-0.35; p = 0.01-0.80).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (1) VO2 peak, V(LT), and RE do not correlate in elite squad members. (2) All 3 variables should be assessed when comparing inter- and intraindividual differences in endurance performance of Special Force Squad members.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Germany Am Sportpark Müngersdorf, 50933 Köln, Germany.
authors.forename: Billy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sperlich
authors.forename: Malte
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zinner
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Achtzehn
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Marées
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mester
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid