Predicting VO2max from 1- and 1.5-Mile Runs

VO2max is the gold standard to assess cardiovascular fitness, an important factor in the longevity of health. Consequently, not everyone can perform a maximal cardiovascular test. PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy of the 1-mile or 1.5-mile run to predict VO2max. METHODS: Field runs were counterbalanced and performed on an outdoor, all-weather 400m oval track. Subjects (N=114) warmed up and stretched, then lined up single file and signaled to go in ten-second increments. At the end of the run, HR, RPE (Borg’s 6-20) and time was recorded. VO2max: subjects were fitted with a Polar heart rate monitor, a headgear to support a one-way valve mouthpiece that was connected to a ParvoMedics TrueOne 2400 metabolic cart and performed a standard Bruce protocol on a motorized treadmill until exhaustion. Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used to assess the relationship between VO2max and the field runs. A two-way random (constancy) intraclass correlation coefficient (Cronbach’s Alpha) was used to assess reliability between the measures. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess differences between actual VO2max from the treadmill and predicted the timed runs. Simple linear regression was used to create a prediction equation for each field run. Alpha was set at .05 for all tests. RESULTS: VO2max and VO2max estimated from the 1-mile run (r(112) = .795, p = .001) as well as VO2max estimated from the 1.5-mile run (r(112) = .845, p = .001). Cronbach’s Alpha indicated high reliability between VO2max and VO2max estimated from the 1-mile run (Cronbach’s(113) = .874, p = .001) and from the 1.5-mile run (Cronbach’s(113) =. 916, p = .001). Repeated measures ANOVA show a significant difference among the three measures of VO2max (F(2, 112) = 69.9, p = .001), with pairwise comparisons indicating a significant difference between VO2max and VO2max estimated from the 1-mile run (p = .001, SEE = 5.3 ml/kg/min) as well as between VO2max and VO2max estimated from the 1.5-mile run (p = .001, SEE = 5.3 ml/kg/min). New Prediction Equations VO2max= 75.056-(3.879*1-mile (min)), p = .001, SEE= 4.8 ml/kg/min and =76.775-(2.543*1.5-mile (min)), p = .001, SEE = 4.6 ml/kg/min. CONCLUSION: While significant differences exist between actual and predicted VO2max, common field equations are quite reliable. In assessing a population similar to this sample, the new equations provide greater accuracy