title: Drafting's improvement of 3000-m running performance in elite athletes: is it a placebo effect?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of drafting on running time, physiological response, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) during 3000-m track running.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten elite middle- and long-distance runners performed 3 track-running sessions. The 1st session determined maximal oxygen uptake and maximal aerobic speed using a lightweight ambulatory respiratory gas-exchange system (K4B2). The 2nd and the 3rd tests consisted of nondrafting 3000-m running (3000-mND) and 3000-m running with drafting for the 1st 2000 m (3000-mD) performed on the track in a randomized counterbalanced order.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Performance during the 3000-mND (553.59±22.15 s) was significantly slower (P<.05) than during the 3000-mD (544.74±18.72 s). Cardiorespiratory responses were not significantly different between the trials. However, blood lactate concentration was significantly higher (P<.05) after the 3000-mND (16.4±2.3 mmol/L) than after the 3000-mD (13.2±5.6 mmol/L). Athletes perceived the 3000-mND as more strenuous than the 3000-mD (P<.05) (RPE=16.1±0.8 vs 13.1±1.3). Results demonstrate that drafting has a significant effect on performance in highly trained runners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This effect could not be explained by a reduced energy expenditure or cardiorespiratory effort as a result of drafting. This raises the possibility that drafting may aid running performance by both physiological and nonphysiological (ie, psychological) effects.
authors.affiliation: Movement, Sport, and Health Sciences Laboratory, University of Rennes 2, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Hassane
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zouhal
authors.forename: Abderraouf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Abderrahman
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prioux
authors.forename: Beat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Knechtle
authors.forename: Lotfi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bouguerra
authors.forename: Wiem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kebsi
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Noakes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010465:Perception; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D015990:Placebo Effect; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid