Prediction of maximal oxygen consumption based on running performances of college-aged men and women

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictability of VO2 max from 40 yd dash, 220 yd run, 1.5 mi and 2.0 mi running performances of college-aged men and women (mean age = 21.3 years). Twenty-two healthy men and women physical education students underwent a continuous graded treadmill run to exhaustion. Heart rates were electrocardiographically monitored and oxygen uptake values were determined for each minute of the test. Within 2 to 3 weeks of the treadmill test, subjects performed a 40 yd dash, 220 yd run, 1.5 mi and 2.0 mi run on an indoor 220 yd track. When various correlation methods were used, the results indicated that VO2 max when expressed as ml/kg.min, provided the highest correlation (r = 0.785) with VO2 max expressed as ml/kg.min. These data tended to indicate that body weight or body fat had little effect on the results. Therefore, for young adult joggers, both the 1.5 mi and 2.0 mi runs tended to be suitable distances for estimating cardiorespiratory endurance.Thesis (M.A.