Edinburgh Napier University

  PURPOSE: To identify indicators of backpack running performance in “elite” British soldiers using an extensive range of physiological and anthropometrical variables.
METHODS: Thirteen male soldiers (mean ± SD: Age: 26 ± 4 yrs; VO2peak: 55.1 ± 5.4) from two “elite” British Army Units completed two backpack running protocols (backpack weight: 20kg) on separate occasions; (1) an incremental treadmill running test to volitional exhaustion and (2) an 8-mile time-trial in field conditions. During the treadmill test, VO2, VE, VE/VO2, heart rate, RPE and blood lactate concentrations were determined at each incremental stage of the protocol to identify blood lactate (breakpoint, [delta] 1mM, 2.5mM, 3.0mM and 4.0mM) and ventilatory [breakpoints in ventilation (ventT) and the ventilatory equivalent of oxygen (VE/VO2T)] thresholds and corresponding values. Maximal exercise time and VO2peak were also determined from the test. For the field test, soldiers were asked to complete an 8-mile course (12.8 km) in the fastest time possible.
RESULTS: Mean exercise tolerance time on the treadmill test was 23:34 ± 00:38 min: sec and the mean time taken to complete the 8-mile time-trial was 1:31:45 ± 0:10:12 h:min:sec. Pearson's correlations revealed that velocity at lactate breakpoint, [delta] 1mM, 2.5mM, 3.0mM, 4.0mM and VE/VO2T were the best indicators of performance on the 8-mile time-trial (r = -0.86, -0.71, -0.79, -0.82, -0.82, -0.77 respectively). VO2 at 2.5mM threshold and velocity at ventT were moderate indicators of performance (r = 0.65 and 0.63 respectively), whereas VO2peak (r = 0.40) and percentage body fat (r = 0.01) were poor performance indicators.
CONCLUSION: Blood lactate and ventilatory thresholds are useful indicators of backpack running performance in “elite” British soldiers.