Effects of 20 Weeks of Endurance and Strength Training on Running Economy, Maximal Aerobic Speed, and Gait Kinematics in Trained Runners
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effects of a 20-week endurance and strength training program on running economy and physiological, spatiotemporal, and neuromuscular variables in trained runners. Methods: A total of 18 runners (13 males and 5 females) completed a running economy test (2 bo...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/903 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832589222346752000 |
|---|---|
| author | Sergio Rodríguez-Barbero José María González-Ravé Benedicte Vanwanseele Daniel Juárez Santos-García Violeta Muñoz de la Cruz Fernando González-Mohíno |
| author_facet | Sergio Rodríguez-Barbero José María González-Ravé Benedicte Vanwanseele Daniel Juárez Santos-García Violeta Muñoz de la Cruz Fernando González-Mohíno |
| author_sort | Sergio Rodríguez-Barbero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effects of a 20-week endurance and strength training program on running economy and physiological, spatiotemporal, and neuromuscular variables in trained runners. Methods: A total of 18 runners (13 males and 5 females) completed a running economy test (2 bouts of 5 min at 3.06 m·s<sup>−1</sup> for females and at 3.61 m·s<sup>−1</sup> for males) and a graded exercise test (5 min at 2.78 m⋅s<sup>−1</sup>, with speed increasing by 0.28 m⋅s−1 every 1 min until volitional exhaustion). During the training program, the participants completed different low-intensity continuous running sessions, high-intensity interval running sessions, and auxiliary strength training sessions. Results: Running economy, measured as oxygen cost and energy cost, increased by 4% (<i>p</i> = 0.011) and 3.4% (<i>p</i> = 0.011), respectively. Relative maximal oxygen uptake (VO<sub>2max</sub>) increased by 4.6%. There was an improvement in the speed associated with the first (VT<sub>1</sub>) and the second ventilatory threshold and with the maximal aerobic speed by 9.4, 3.7, and 2.8% (<i>p</i> = 0.000, <i>p</i> = 0.004, and <i>p</i> = 0.004, respectively). The %VO<sub>2max</sub> value of VT<sub>1</sub> increased by 4.8% (<i>p</i> = 0.014). Conclusions: These findings suggest that a 20-week endurance and strength training program significantly improves performance and physiological factors without changing the runner’s biomechanics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dee5bfbdd9f94f85952d1d9eae43744e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-dee5bfbdd9f94f85952d1d9eae43744e2025-01-24T13:21:17ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-01-0115290310.3390/app15020903Effects of 20 Weeks of Endurance and Strength Training on Running Economy, Maximal Aerobic Speed, and Gait Kinematics in Trained RunnersSergio Rodríguez-Barbero0José María González-Ravé1Benedicte Vanwanseele2Daniel Juárez Santos-García3Violeta Muñoz de la Cruz4Fernando González-Mohíno5Sports Training Laboratory (GIRD), Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, SpainSports Training Laboratory (GIRD), Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, SpainHuman Movement Biomechanics Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, BelgiumSports Training Laboratory (GIRD), Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, SpainSports Training Laboratory (GIRD), Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, SpainSports Training Laboratory (GIRD), Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, SpainObjective: This study aims to evaluate the effects of a 20-week endurance and strength training program on running economy and physiological, spatiotemporal, and neuromuscular variables in trained runners. Methods: A total of 18 runners (13 males and 5 females) completed a running economy test (2 bouts of 5 min at 3.06 m·s<sup>−1</sup> for females and at 3.61 m·s<sup>−1</sup> for males) and a graded exercise test (5 min at 2.78 m⋅s<sup>−1</sup>, with speed increasing by 0.28 m⋅s−1 every 1 min until volitional exhaustion). During the training program, the participants completed different low-intensity continuous running sessions, high-intensity interval running sessions, and auxiliary strength training sessions. Results: Running economy, measured as oxygen cost and energy cost, increased by 4% (<i>p</i> = 0.011) and 3.4% (<i>p</i> = 0.011), respectively. Relative maximal oxygen uptake (VO<sub>2max</sub>) increased by 4.6%. There was an improvement in the speed associated with the first (VT<sub>1</sub>) and the second ventilatory threshold and with the maximal aerobic speed by 9.4, 3.7, and 2.8% (<i>p</i> = 0.000, <i>p</i> = 0.004, and <i>p</i> = 0.004, respectively). The %VO<sub>2max</sub> value of VT<sub>1</sub> increased by 4.8% (<i>p</i> = 0.014). Conclusions: These findings suggest that a 20-week endurance and strength training program significantly improves performance and physiological factors without changing the runner’s biomechanics.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/903performancephysiologybiomechanicstrainingstrength |
| spellingShingle | Sergio Rodríguez-Barbero José María González-Ravé Benedicte Vanwanseele Daniel Juárez Santos-García Violeta Muñoz de la Cruz Fernando González-Mohíno Effects of 20 Weeks of Endurance and Strength Training on Running Economy, Maximal Aerobic Speed, and Gait Kinematics in Trained Runners Applied Sciences performance physiology biomechanics training strength |
| title | Effects of 20 Weeks of Endurance and Strength Training on Running Economy, Maximal Aerobic Speed, and Gait Kinematics in Trained Runners |
| title_full | Effects of 20 Weeks of Endurance and Strength Training on Running Economy, Maximal Aerobic Speed, and Gait Kinematics in Trained Runners |
| title_fullStr | Effects of 20 Weeks of Endurance and Strength Training on Running Economy, Maximal Aerobic Speed, and Gait Kinematics in Trained Runners |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of 20 Weeks of Endurance and Strength Training on Running Economy, Maximal Aerobic Speed, and Gait Kinematics in Trained Runners |
| title_short | Effects of 20 Weeks of Endurance and Strength Training on Running Economy, Maximal Aerobic Speed, and Gait Kinematics in Trained Runners |
| title_sort | effects of 20 weeks of endurance and strength training on running economy maximal aerobic speed and gait kinematics in trained runners |
| topic | performance physiology biomechanics training strength |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/903 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sergiorodriguezbarbero effectsof20weeksofenduranceandstrengthtrainingonrunningeconomymaximalaerobicspeedandgaitkinematicsintrainedrunners AT josemariagonzalezrave effectsof20weeksofenduranceandstrengthtrainingonrunningeconomymaximalaerobicspeedandgaitkinematicsintrainedrunners AT benedictevanwanseele effectsof20weeksofenduranceandstrengthtrainingonrunningeconomymaximalaerobicspeedandgaitkinematicsintrainedrunners AT danieljuarezsantosgarcia effectsof20weeksofenduranceandstrengthtrainingonrunningeconomymaximalaerobicspeedandgaitkinematicsintrainedrunners AT violetamunozdelacruz effectsof20weeksofenduranceandstrengthtrainingonrunningeconomymaximalaerobicspeedandgaitkinematicsintrainedrunners AT fernandogonzalezmohino effectsof20weeksofenduranceandstrengthtrainingonrunningeconomymaximalaerobicspeedandgaitkinematicsintrainedrunners |