Alternative Metabolic Strategies are Employed by Endurance Runners of Different Body Sizes; Implications for Human Evolution

Longman, Daniel P ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3025-7053, Merzbach, Viviane ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2739-9176, Pinto, Jorge Marques ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6118-3694, Atkinson, Laura Hope ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3939-2817, Wells, Jonathan CK ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0411-8025, Gordon, Dan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3161-8984 and Stock, Jay T ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0147-8631 (2022) Alternative Metabolic Strategies are Employed by Endurance Runners of Different Body Sizes; Implications for Human Evolution. Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology, 8 (1). pp. 79-97. ISSN 2198-7335

Preview

Text Published Version Available under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Objective A suite of adaptations facilitating endurance running (ER) evolved within the hominin lineage. This may have improved our ability to reach scavenging sites before competitors, or to hunt prey over long distances. Running economy (RE) is a key determinant of endurance running performance, and depends largely on the magnitude of force required to support body mass. However, numerous environmental factors influence body mass, thereby significantly affecting RE. This study tested the hypothesis that alternative metabolic strategies may have emerged to enable ER in individuals with larger body mass and poor RE. Methods A cohort of male (n = 25) and female (n = 19) ultra-endurance runners completed submaximal and exhaustive treadmill protocols to determine RE, and V̇O2Max. Results Body mass was positively associated with sub-maximal oxygen consumption at both LT1 (male r=0.66, p<0.001; female LT1 r=0.23, p=0.177) and LT2 (male r=0.59, p=0.001; female r=0.23, p=0.183) and also with V̇O2Max (male r=0.60, p=0.001; female r=0.41, p=0.046). Additionally, sub-maximal oxygen consumption varied positively with V̇O2Max in both male (LT1 r=0.54, p=0.003; LT2 r=0.77, p<0.001) and female athletes (LT1 r=0.88, p<0.001; LT2 r=0.92, p<0.001). Conclusions The results suggest that, while individuals with low mass and good RE can glide economically as they run, larger individuals can compensate for the negative effects their mass has on RE by increasing their capacity to consume oxygen. The elevated energy expenditure of this low-economy high-energy turnover approach to ER may bring costs associated with energy diversion away from other physiological processes, however.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Keywords:	Evolution, Endurance running, Running economy, Energetics
Faculty:	Faculty of Science & Engineering
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic User
Depositing User:	Symplectic User
Date Deposited:	13 Sep 2022 09:22
Last Modified:	13 Sep 2022 09:22
URI:	https://arro.anglia.ac.uk/id/eprint/707901

Actions (login required)

Edit Item