Florence, S. L., & Weir, J. P. (1995). Relationship of critical velocity to marathon running performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 27(5), Supplement abstract 43.

Ss (N = 12) completed several physiological and performance tests (CV - critical velocity) prior to competing in the New York marathon. It was found that critical velocity (CV) was related more to marathon time than either VO2max or ventilatory threshold.

Implication. CV involves the total integration of all systems in its determination to the same extent as required in the criterion variable, marathon run time. However, VO2max and VT are only partial variables in the complex mix of factors involved in running. Therefore, it is not surprising that the more limited variables are less associated with running because they do not contain or convey as much information as CV. CV has several definitions the more common ones being the speed or intensity of performance associated with anaerobic threshold or with VO2max.

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