The Sustained Aerobic The Sustained Aerobic Activity vs. Max Aerobic Activity vs. Max Aerobic

Power of Runners Power of Runners Compared to CyclistsCompared to Cyclists

By: Jesse GoodrichValerie Ward

Monarch High School

Research Question

How does the threshold vs. maximum

aerobic power output compare in

cyclists and runners on bike

ergometers?

Hypothesis

If the maximum aerobic power and threshold of a group of cyclists and a group of

runners are compared, then the cyclists will have a higher threshold wattage but the runners will have a higher maximum

aerobic power in comparison to their thresholds.

Background

• Threshold is the point in exercise when lactate accumulates faster than the body can clear it which causes the onset of muscle fatigue

• This is the point in which the body switches from aerobic to anaerobic respiration

http://www.bvsd.org/

BackgroundAccording to research, excess calcium may produce deficiencies in magnesium and potassium. Deficiencies in magnesium could affect photosynthesis and deficiencies in potassium could affect the osmotic balance and turgor pressure of the plant’s cells.

•During aerobic exercise, both glycolysis and the

Krebs cycle depicted in the previous slide occur.

However, once the body switches to anaerobic

respiration and the body can only complete gycolysis.

•The Pyruvate molecules produced by glycolysis then

go through fermentation producing lactate.

•The most accurate way to test lactic threshold is

through a series of blood tests taken during period of

exercise.

Methods

• Once a group of runners and a group of cyclists were recruited we had both groups complete a 10k time trial in the indoor cycling ergometer at Boulder Center for Sports Medicine.

• From there an approximate threshold wattage value for each individual was calculated and used to create a maximum aerobic power workout based on this threshold wattage data.

Methods

• Once the maximum aerobic power workout was created, both groups completed this workout and when the athlete’s cadence fell below 50% of where it started, the athlete was stopped.

• The percent of threshold in which this occurred was the athlete’s maximum aerobic power

Data & Analysis

Subject Time

1 16:02

2 15:07

3 16:32

4 16:37

Average 16:04

CyclistsSubject Time

1 17:39

2 17:14

3 18:21

Average 17:50

Runners

Ttest: .0176

Data & Analysis

Ttest value: .008

Data & Analysis Maximum Aerobic Power

Cyclist% aerobic

cut off Runner% aerobic

cut off1 150 1 1802 140 2 1503 160 3 1404 160

Average 153 Average 157Standard Deviation 9.57

Standard Deviation 20.8

Ttest Value: 0.771

Conclusions

• It was definitive from the T-tests that we ran that there was a significant difference between the two groups of athletes when comparing both their times and their threshold wattage data.

• This was predicted because the both groups of athletes were tested on bikes.

Conclusions

• The maximum aerobic power data, however, did not show a significant deviation between the two groups. For this reason we were unable to reach any verifiable conclusions about the maximum aerobic power of runners versus cyclists and further testing and larger subject groups would be needed.

Further ResearchNow that preliminary results have been compiled and analyzed, we further know the flaws of our experimental procedure. If we were to complete further tests we would use a larger subject group, use either endurance athletes or sprinters, and complete more tests to account for natural variation in athletic performance.

Special Thanks

•Thanks to Lester and Neal at the Boulder Center for Sports

Medicine for letting us use the facilities and helping us develop

our experiment.

•Thanks to Mrs. Donley for helping us through all of our

problems.

•Thanks to Mr. Vass for helping us figure out what direction to

go.

Bibliography

• Aalberg, John, and Torbjorn Karlsen. "Determining Max Heart Rate, Anaerobic Threshold, and Training Zones." Faster Skier. 27 June 2003. 12 Oct. 2008 <http://www.fasterskier.com/training404.html>.

• "How To Determine Lactate / Anaerobic Threshold." Sports Fitness Advisor. 2008. Sporting Excellence Limited. 4 Nov. 2008 <http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/anaerobicthreshold.html>.

• Karp, Jason R. "Heart Rate Training for Improved Running Performance." Track Coach. 12 Oct. 2008 <http://www.coachr.org/heart_rate_training_for_improved.htm>.

• Marieb, Elaine N. Human Anatomy and Physiology. 5th ed. San Francisco, CA: Benjamin Cummings, 2000.

• Quinn, Elizabeth. "Lactate Threshold Training." About.com. 25 Jan. 2008. The New York Times Company. 12 Oct. 2008 <http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/anatomyandphysiology/a/lt_training.htm>.

Bibliography

• Stephen J Brown, Helen J Ryan and Julie A Brown. “AGE-ASSOCIATED CHANGES IN VO2 AND POWER OUTPUT - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF ENDURANCE TRAINED NEW ZEALAND CYCLISTS”. 1 December 2007. 5 November 2008. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine.

• François-Denis DESGORCES, Marc TESTA, and Cyril PETIBOIS. “TRAINING-LEVEL INDUCED CHANGES IN BLOOD PARAMETERS RESPONSE TO ON-WATER ROWING RACES”. 1 December 2008. 23 November 2008. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine.