Validez de la velocidad crítica como predictor del consumo máximo de oxígeno en atletas de mediofondo y fondo que se entrenan a la altura de Bogotá

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the validity of critical velocity as an indirect test to predict the oxygen consumption (VO2max.). Eleven (11) athletes, four (4) middle distance runners and seven (7) long distance runners of the selection of Bogota and Cundinamarca with an average age, weight, height and IMC, respectively: 21 (SD: 2.91), 56, 36 (SD: 4.48), 1.71 (SD: 0.05) and 19.29 (SD: 0.81). The participants in this study developed two tests, a test of laboratory and a test of field to determine the VO2max. The estimate of the CV was performed with linear regression analysis between Tlim and Dlim of each athlete. For the statistical analysis was used SPSS version 17.0. The research results showed that the VO2max for laboratory test was 63.54 ml / kg * min-1 and 62.36 ml / kg * min-1 for the field test, this not reported significant differences between values (r = 0.46), however the correlation was weak (p = 0.29), also in the two tests the final heart rate reached the 97% of the maximum. On the other hand, the average CV was 4.86 m/s-1 for middle distance runners and 4.78 m/s-1 for long distance runners, getting the best Tlim the group of longer distance runners (2327 s), was reported in general a range of Tlim to CV of 7 to 60 min and an average of 30 min at this velocity. In conclusion, in this study was not possible validate the CV, because the protocol used in the laboratory test was not appropriate for the athletes. However was found that the middle distance runners gotten a higher value of CV compared with the long distance runners and as it was expected the largest Tlim to CV was reached by the long distance runners, showing that the CV can be maintained for an unlimited time, depending on the athlete's physical condition.