Comparing male and female 10km runners with regards to both performance and training

Date
2003-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to compare training and physiological variables in performance-matched 10 km female and male athletes in order to identify those factors allowing females to compensate for their lower haematocrit and higher % body fat, both of which are disadvantageous to performance. Eight well-trained competitive female runners and eight well-trained competitive male runners participated in the study. They were matched by performance in a controlled 10 km time trial in the field (TT10). Training was monitored in each athlete for seven consecutive days using heart rate monitoring and training diaries. Each athlete gave a muscle biopsy for histological and biochemical analysis. Four maximal tests, two flat and two gradient (8%), were completed by each athlete in order to determine V02max, maximum heart rate and peak treadmill speed (PTS) under each condition. Each athlete also completed two submaximal tests (one flat and one gradient) and a ten minute race pace test, in which the pace was determined by their TT10 performance. These allowed fractional utilization of V02max, HRmax and PTS to be determined, as well as economy. Training data revealed a much greater training volume, both distance run and duration of training, in female athletes (p < 0.05 for distance; p < 0.01 for duration). V02max expressed per kg body mass was significantly higher in males (p < 0.05), however, when expressed per FFM, no difference was found between genders. Female athletes had a significantly greater percent composition of type I fibres and males had significantly more type IIX fibres, possible explanation of gender difference in PTS and contributing factor to equal TT10. The relationships between training, performance and biochemical variables in either gender were very different.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om die oefening en fisiologiese veranderlikes in 10 km vroue en mans atlete, wat afgepaar was volgens prestasie, te vergelyk om die faktore te indentisifeer wat vroue toelaat om te kompenseer vir hulle lae haematokrit en hoë persent liggaamsmassa, wat albei nadelig is tot prestasie. Agt mededingende vroue hardlopers en agt mededingende mans hardlopers het aan die studie deelgeneem. Hulle was gepaar volgens prestasie in 'n gekontroleerde padwedloop (TTlO). Oefening was gemonitor vir elke atleet vir sewe opeenvolgende dae deur gebruik te maak van harttempo monitors en oefeningsdagboeke. Elke atlleet het 'n spierbiopsie gehad wat histologies en biochemies geanaliseer was. Vier maksimale toetse, twee met 'n gradiënt van 0° en twee met 'n gradiënt van 5° (8%) was deur elke atleet voltooi om V02maks,maksimale harttempo en piek trapmeulspoed (PTS), vir beide situasies te bepaal. Hulle het ook almal twee submaksimale toetse gedoen (een teen 0° gradiënt en een teen 5° gradiënt) sowel as 'n tien minuut wedlooppas toets. Fraksionele benutting van V02maks,HRmaksen PTS was hiervan bepaal asook die ekonomie van elke atleet. Oefeningshoeveelheid ten opsigte van afstand en duur van oefening was baie hoër in vroue atlete (p < 0.05 vir afstand; p < 0.01 vir duur). V02maks uitgedruk per kg liggaamsmassa was aansienlik hoër in mans atlete (p < 0.05), maar uitgedruk per vetvrye massa (FFM) was daar geen verskil tussen geslagte. Vroue atlete het 'n merkwaardige hoër persentasie tipe I spiervesels gehad terwyl mans atlete 'n merkwaardige hoer persentasie tipe IIX spiervesels 'gehad het. Dit mag dalk 'n mootlike verklaring vir die geslagsverskil in PTS en 'n bydraende faktor tot gelyke TTlO wees. Verskillende verhoudings tussen oefening, prestasie en biochemiese veranderlikes was in die twee geslagte gesien.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003.
Keywords
Runners (Sports), Athletes, Women athletes, Physical fitness, Dissertations -- Human movement studies, Theses -- Human movement studies
Citation