PHYSIOLOGICAL, ANTHROPOMETRIC, STRENGTH, AND
MUSCLE POWER CHARACTERISTICS CORRELATES WITH
RUNNING PERFORMANCE IN YOUNG RUNNERS
RODOLFO A. DELLAGRANA,1,2 LUIZ G.A. GUGLIELMO,2 BRUNO V. SANTOS,1 SARA G. HERNANDEZ,1
SÉRGIO G. DA SILVA,1 AND WAGNER DE CAMPOS1
1
Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Parana´, Curitiba, Brazil; and 2Department of Physical Education,
Federal University of Santa Catarina, Floriano´polis, Brazil
ABSTRACT
Downloaded from http://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr by BhDMf5ePHKav1zEoum1tQfN4a+kJLhEZgbsIHo4XMi0hCywCX1AWnYQp/IlQrHD3i3D0OdRyi7TvSFl4Cf3VC4/OAVpDDa8KKGKV0Ymy+78= on 11/06/2020
Dellagrana, RA, Guglielmo, LGA, Santos, BV, Hernandez, SG,
da Silva, SG, and Campos, W. Physiological, anthropo-
metric, strength, and muscle power characteristics
correlates with running performance in young runners.
J Strength Cond Res 29(6): 1584–1591, 2015—The pur-
pose of this study was to investigate the relationship
between physiological, anthropometric, strength, and mus-
cle power variables and a 5-km time trial (5kmT) in young
runners. Twenty-three runners volunteered to participate in
this study. Height, body mass, body fat, and fat-free mass
(FFM) were measured. The subjects underwent laboratory
testing to determine maximal oxygen uptake (V_ O2 max),
velocity at ventilatory threshold (VVT ), running economy
(RE), velocity associated with maximal oxygen uptake
(vV_ O2 max), and peak velocity (PV). Peak torque, total work,
and power were measured by an isokinetic dynamometer at
608$s21 and 2408$s 21 angular velocities. Right and left
knee flexor and extensor torques were evaluated. Finally,
the participants performed a 5kmT. Multiple regression
and correlation analysis were used to determine the varia-
bles that significantly related to 5kmT. Strength and muscle
power variables did not correlate with 5kmT. However,
most physiological variables were associated with 5kmT.
Velocity at ventilatory threshold alone explains 40% of
the variance in 5kmT. The addition of the RE at speed
11.2 km$h21 (RE11.2) and FFM to the prediction equation
allowed for 71% of the adjusted variance in 5kmT to be pre-
dicted. These results show that strength and muscle power
variables are not good predictors of 5kmT; however, the phys-
iological variables presented high prediction capacity in the
Address correspondence to Rodolfo A. Dellagrana, radellagrana@
yahoo.com.br.
29(6)/1584–1591
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Ó 2015 National Strength and Conditioning Association
the TM
1584 Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
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5kmT. Moreover, the anthropometric measures showed signifi-
cant influence in performance prediction.
KEY WORDS running test, isokinetic test, endurance
performance, anthropometry, young athletes
INTRODUCTION
T
raditionally, the variables that have the most signif-
icant correlation with the performance of endur-
ance runners are maximum oxygen uptake
(V_ O2max), anaerobic threshold (AT), and running
economy (RE) (3,22,29,30). Many studies have shown that
high-value V_ O2max is a prerequisite for success in middle-
distance and long-distance runners; however, V_ O2max was
not a good predictor of performance in groups of athletes
with a small interindividual variation in V_ O2max (1,3,18).
Therefore, other factors, such as RE, velocity associated with
maximal oxygen uptake (vV _ O2max), or peak velocity (PV) can
be better predictors of endurance performance in runners
with similar V_ O2max values (10,22). Furthermore, the
indices related to blood lactate represent aerobic capacity
effectively and are used as predictors of endurance running
performance (3,11).
However, some studies have shown that performances in
middle-distance and long-distance running may be limited
not only by physiological factors, but also by muscle power
factors (24,25). Thus, strength training for increases in
strength and power has been reported to be beneficial in
leading to increased rapid force production, contributing to
increased running speed in long-distance events (31). Fur-
thermore, specific neural adaptation and increased stiffness
of the muscle-tendon system, which allows the body to store
and use elastic energy more effectively, may be fundamental
in middle-distance and long-distance running (25,27).
Moreover, anthropometric variables are also determinants
of running performance (32). According to Berg (4), the
winners and finishers usually have low height and body mass
(BM). These differences in elite athletes are decisive for com-
petitions. Therefore, a strong predictive relationship between
physiological variables and endurance performance has
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frequently been reported in young runners (1,8,13). The rela- Brazil), according to the techniques described by Gordon
tionship between physiological, neuromuscular, and anthro- (16). Body fat percentage was estimated from the equation
pometric characteristics and endurance performance is still of 2 skinfolds (tricipital and calf ) proposed by Slaughter (28)
debatable in young runners. for adolescents, with the use of an adipometer with 0.1 mm
In young runners, only the study by Cole et al. (8) examined accuracy (WCS Technology, Curitiba, Brazil). Fat-free mass
the relationship between physiological, strength, and muscle was calculated from the %BF value.
power variables with a 5-km (cross-country) run time, observ-
Determination of V_ O2max, Ventilatory Threshold, vV_ O2max,
ing significant relationships between race time and V _ O2max
and Peak Velocity
_
and between vVO2max and RE; however, muscle strength and
Maximum oxygen uptake was measured using an incremental
power were not significantly related to race time. Further-
protocol performed on a motorized treadmill (Imbramed
more, the relationship between the predictors of endurance
Super ATL, Porto Alegre, Brazil) with the gradient set at 1%.
performance adjusted for anthropometric variables has not
The initial speed was set at 10 km$h21 for 1 minute and was
been tested in young runners. Therefore, the aims of this study
then incremented by 1 km$h21 every 1 minute, until volun-
were (a) to analyze the relationship between physiological,
tary exhaustion. Throughout the tests, the respiratory and
anthropometric, strength, and muscle power variables with
pulmonary gas-exchange variables were measured using
running performance in young runners, and (b) to analyze
a breath-by-breath ParvoMedics gas analyzer (TrueOne Met-
the prediction of physiological, anthropometric, strength,
abolic Measurement System 2400; Salt Lake City, UT, USA).
and muscle power variables in 5-km distance performance.
The equipment was calibrated with known gas samples for O2
METHODS and CO2, whereas the ventilation flow was calibrated using
a syringe with a volume of 3 L (Hans Rudolf, Kansas City, KS,
Experimental Approach to the Problem
USA). The rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was measured
This study measured 23 young runners for physiological
using OMNI category scale, which consists of 11 statements
(V_ O2max, AT, RE, vV_ O2max, and PV), strength (peak torque
[PT] and total work [TW]), muscle power, and anthropomet-
ric (height, BM, body fat percentage [%BF], and fat-free mass
[FFM]) variables. Therefore, the research was divided into 4
phases. In the first phase, subjects were grouped according to TABLE 1. Anthropometric, physiological, and
the Tanner stages of maturation (33), determined by self- performance (5kmT) characteristics of the
assessment as stage 1 (prepubertal), stages 2, 3, and 4 (puber- athletes.*
tal), or stage 5 (postpubertal). All of the participants were in
Variables Mean 6 SD CV (%)
stage 5. In addition, the number of hours per week of sports
training was self-reported by athletes using a specific question- Anthropometric
naire (26). Anthropometric evaluation was measured, followed variables
by incremental treadmill protocol. In the second phase, a sub- Age (y) 18.00 6 0.90 5.00
Height (m) 1.73 6 0.05 2.89
maximal treadmill test was administered. In the third phase, BM (kg) 64.31 6 7.99 12.42
the runners reported to the physical therapy clinic, where %BF 11.63 6 2.87 24.68
strength and power were evaluated on the isokinetic dyna- FFM (kg) 56.74 6 6.52 11.49
mometer. Finally, in the fourth phase, the athletes performed Physiological variables
the performance simulation event over a 5-km distance. V_ O2max (L$min21) 4.08 6 0.57 13.97
VVT (km$h21) 14.22 6 1.08 7.59
Subjects vV_ O2max (km$h21) 18.22 6 0.95 5.21
Twenty-three, moderately trained young runners, all male, were PV (km$h21) 18.43 6 0.87 4.72
RE 11.2 km$h21 2.57 6 0.27 10.51
recruited to participate in the study. All subjects had a minimum (L$min21)
of 6 months of experience with training and endurance events RE 12.8 km$h21 2.83 6 0.35 12.37
and, in the period that preceded this performance study, had (L$min21)
been training 6 days per week, with a weekly volume that RE 14.4 km$h21 3.04 6 0.39 12.83
oscillated between 60 and 80 km. Before data collection, the (L$min21)
Performance
research was approved by the Human Research Ethics 5kmT (min) 18.47 6 1.17 6.33
Committee of the Federal University of Paraná (protocol no.
0064.0.091.000-10). Parental permission and the participants’ *CV = coefficient of variation; BM = body mass; %BF =
body fat percentage; FFM = fat-free mass; V_ O2max =
consent were obtained in writing before participation. maximal oxygen uptake; VVT = velocity at ventilatory
threshold; vV_ O2max = velocity associated with maximal
Anthropometric Evaluation
oxygen uptake; PV = peak velocity; RE = running econ-
Body mass was measured on a scale with 0.1 kg accuracy omy; 5kmT = 5-km time trial.
(Toledo, model 2096, São Paulo, Brazil). Height was measured
with a stadiometer with 0.1 cm accuracy (Sanny, São Paulo,

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 Performance Characteristics in Young Runners

a third investigator would have

to independently analyze the
TABLE 2. Strength and muscle power characteristics of the athletes.*
exercise test data to detect VT
Variables Mean 6 SD CV (%) (15). However, in this study, the
differences between the VT val-
Isokinetic variables
ues detected by the 2 investiga-
Extensors
PT 608$s21 (Nm) 193.22 6 33.15 17.15 tors did not differ by more than
PT 608$s21 (Nm$kg21) 300.62 6 37.65 12.52 3% for any participant. Velocity
TW 608$s21 (J) 209.13 6 37.86 18.10 associated with maximal oxy-
TW 608$s21 (J$kg21) 325.0 6 45.16 13.89 gen uptake was defined as
PW 2408$s21 (W) 222.98 6 39.84 17.87
the minimal velocity at which
PW 2408$s21 (W$kg21) 349.90 6 63.75 18.22
Flexors V_ O2max occurred (6). The peak
PT 608$s21 (Nm) 118.35 6 24.31 20.54 velocity (PV) was defined as the
PT 608$s21 (Nm$kg21) 183.83 6 28.61 15.60 last velocity that was main-
TW 608$s21 (J) 134.87 6 26.94 19.97 tained for a full minute (23).
TW 608$s21 (J$kg21) 209.86 6 34.32 16.35
PW 2408$s21 (W) 151.08 6 31.55 20.88 Running Economy
PW 2408$s21 (W$kg21) 236.10 6 47.03 19.9 Running economy was deter-
*CV = coefficient of variation; PT = peak torque; TW = total work; PW = Power.
mined using a discontinuous
protocol. Athletes ran at 3
different speeds (11.2 km$h21;
12.8 km$h21; 14.4 km$h21).
scored from 0 to 10 (from extremely easy to extremely hard) Participants exercised at each velocity for 6 minutes with
(35). Heart rate (HR) was also monitored throughout the tests the gradient set at 1%; at the conclusion of each 6-minute
(Polar Electro OY, Finland). period, the treadmill speed was reduced to 4.0 km$h21 for
The criteria for achieving a V_ O2max required participants 2 minutes (8). V_ O2 (mL$kg21$min21) was averaged between
to meet 2 of the following: (a) a plateau in V_ O2 (change of the fifth and sixth minutes at each velocity and taken as the
,150 mL$m21 in the last 2 stages); (b) RER of $1.0; (c) reference for an athlete’s RE. Among the analyzed speeds
peak HR at the end of the test of $95% of age predicted (11.2 km$h21; 12.8 km$h21; 14.4 km$h21), we chose 11.2
maximum (220 2 age); and (d) RPE $9. Therefore, V_ O2max km$h21 (RE11.2) because it is the speed that relates better to
was defined as the highest V_ O2 value attained after reaching the moderate exercise intensity domain, to reduce the pos-
the aforementioned criteria. HRmax was defined as the sibility of V_ O2 slow component.
highest value recorded during the test. The ventilatory Isokinetic Evaluation
threshold (VT) was determined by the excess CO2 method Right and left knee flexor and extensor torques were
(ExCO2) (36). A visual inspection to determine the VT was evaluated using an isokinetic dynamometer (Cybex NORM,
carried out independently by 2 experienced investigators. Ronkonkoma, NY, USA). After warming up on a treadmill
The VT values detected by the 2 investigators were then (5 minutes at self-selected pace), participants were posi-
compared. If the 2 VT values were within 3% tioned seated with their hips and thighs firmly strapped to
(mL$kg21$min21), then those values were averaged and the seat of the dynamometer, with the hip angle at 858. The
accepted. If the 2 VT values were more than 3% different, dynamometer arm axis was visually aligned with the ana-
tomical axis of the knee joint.
The tests were repeated for
the contralateral limb and
the lever arm length, eleva-
TABLE 3. Mean 6 SD of the vV_ O2max, PV, VVT, and mean velocity maintained at
_
5 km, and percentages of vVO2max, PV, and VVT in 5 km.* tion of the dynamometer
head and seat position for
km$h21 %vV_ O2max %PV %VVT each subject was recorded
vV_ O2max 18.22 6 0.95
by an experienced researcher.
PV 18.43 6 0.87 100.23 6 1.10 A gravity-correction procedure
VVT 14.22 6 1.08 78.05 6 4.48 78.22 6 4.44 was performed according to the
5kmT 16.30 6 1.06 89.60 6 5.57 89.80 6 5.60 114.98 6 6.98 manufacturer’s instructions.
_ O2max = velocity associated with maximal oxygen uptake; PV = peak velocity; VVT = During testing, the range of
*vV
velocity at ventilatory threshold; 5kmT = 5-km time trial. motion at the knee was about
1108 (08 for knee fully
extended). The testing protocol
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Figure 1. Linear correlation between physiological variables and 5kmT. A) VVT vs. 5kmT. B) V_ O2max (L$min21) vs. 5kmT. C) RE, 11.2 km$h (L$min21).
D) vV_ O2max vs. 5kmT. E) PV vs. 5kmT. VVT = velocity at ventilatory threshold; 5kmT = 5-km time trial; V_ O2max = maximal oxygen uptake; RE = running economy;
vV_ O2max = velocity associated with maximal oxygen uptake; PV = peak velocity.

consisted of open-chain isokinetic movements with concen-
tric quadriceps and hamstring contractions (3 repetitions at
608$s21 and 5 repetitions at 2408$s21). Three submaximal
repetitions were performed for familiarization. The variables ana-
lyzed were PT, TW, power (PW), and hamstring/quadriceps
ratio. Peak torque, TW, and power were normalized for
BM (7). In this study, the dominant lower limb was con-
sidered for analysis.
Running Performance (5-km Time Trial)
The runners performed a simulated event over a 5-km
distance. This event was held at an outdoor 400-m track.

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 Performance Characteristics in Young Runners

Figure 2. Linear correlation between anthropometric variables and 5kmT. A) FFM vs. 5kmT. B) Height vs. 5kmT. FFM = fat-free mass; 5kmT = 5-km time trial.

Before the event, the athletes performed a standard warm-up RESULTS

(specific running exercises), followed by static stretching (for The anthropometric, physiological, 5 km performance,
quadriceps, hamstrings, and calf ). strength, and muscle power characteristics are presented in
Statistical Analyses Tables 1 and 2. Small variation in the physiological, anthro-
Data normality was verified using the Shapiro-Wilk test. pometric (except %BF), and performance characteristics
Values are presented as mean, SD, and coefficient of variance showed homogeneity among athletes. However, the isoki-
(CV). The correlation between the time of the event over netic variables presented a higher CV.
5 km and the physiological (V_ O2max, VT, RE, vV_ O2max, and The relationship between the velocity at ventilatory
PV), anthropometric (BM, height, %BF, and FFM), strength threshold (VVT), vV _ O2max, and PV with mean velocity of
(PT and TW), and muscle power variables was analyzed by the simulated event (5kmT) are presented in Table 3. It was
Pearson’s product-moment correlation. Multiple regression observed that the mean velocity of the 5-km event was above
analysis (stepwise method) was performed to identify the the VVT (114.98 6 6.98%) and below the vV _ O2max and PV
independent variables that were able to predict the 5-km (89.60 6 5.57% and 89.80 6 5.60%, respectively). Therefore,
time trial (5kmT). The defaults’ inclusion and exclusion cri- these results ensure that the young runners performed their
teria, namely the probability of the F to enter #0.05 and the maximum effort in the simulated event over a 5-km distance.
probability of F to remove $0.10, were used in this analysis. The correlation between the physiological variables and
For all statistics, the significance level was set at p # 0.05. performance in the 5kmT is presented in Figure 1. It can be
observed that the correlation
analysis revealed that FFM
and height (Figure 2), but not
BM (r = 0.07, p = 0.743) and %
TABLE 4. Linear correlation between strength, muscle power variables, and BF (r = 0.03, p = 0.909), were
5kmT.*
significant related with 5kmT.
5kmT In the correlation analysis
between the strength and mus-
Isokinetic variables Extensors p Flexors p cle power variables and 5 km
PT 608$s21 (Nm) 0.09 0.701 0.21 0.348 performance, no significant cor-
21
PT 608$s (Nm$kg ) 21 20.14 0.512 0.09 0.668 relation was observed (Table 4).
TW 608$s21 (J) 20.02 0.936 0.10 0.660 Multiple regression analysis
TW 608$s21 (J$kg21) 20.06 0.784 0.03 0.884 was performed using 5kmT as
PW 2408$s21 (W) 0.04 0.867 0.11 0.621 the dependent variable with
PW 2408$s21 (W$kg21) 20.38 0.068 0.02 0.944
physiological and anthropo-
*5kmT = 5-km time trial; PT = peak torque; TW = total work; PW = power. metric (VVT, RE11.2, vV_ O2max,
PV, FFM, and height) as inde-
pendent variables. Through
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TABLE 5. Coefficients of multiple regression of the physiological (VVT and RE)
and anthropometric variables (FFM) with 5kmT.*
Homoscedasticity
Equation (5kmT) R 2 SEE
5kmT = 25.64 2 0.71 (VVT) 2 0.71† 0.677
3.38 (RE11.2) + 0.21 (FFM)
*VVT = velocity at ventilatory threshold; RE11.2 = running economy at velocity of 11.2
21 21
km$h (L$min ); FFM = body fat-free mass; 5kmT = 5-km time trial; SEE = standard error
of estimate; VIF = variance inflation factor.
†p # 0.05.
stepwise analysis, the independent variables were VVT,
RE11.2, and FFM (Table 5). The results showed that the
VVT with the RE11.2 and FFM are able to explain 71% of
the 5-km performance.
DISCUSSION
The main aim of this study was to verify the relationship
between and prediction capacity of the physiological,
anthropometric, strength, and muscle power variables in
the 5-km run time. Our main findings are that the
physiological variables (VVT, RE11.2, vV_ O2max, and PV) are
the important determinants of the 5kmT in young runners.
Some studies with young endurance runners already found
a variety of physiological responses related to performance
in middle-distance and long-distance events (1,8). However,
these studies did not asses physiological responses related to
performance adjusted with anthropometric variables. Thus,
an interesting finding of this study was that a regression
model adjusted by physiological variables and FFM showed
a high prediction value (71%) (Table 5).
In this study, almost all the physiological variables (VVT,
RE11.2, vV_ O2max, and PV) demonstrated a significant corre-
lation with 5kmT. Similar results have been observed in
studies conducted with endurance-trained adults (22,30)
and adolescents (1,8,13). Therefore, performance in endur-
ance running depends on several factors, including a high
cardiac output, a high oxygen delivery to working muscles,
the ability to sustain a high percentage of V_ O2max for long
periods of time, and the ability to move efficiently (14).
The VVT was the physiological variable that presented the
highest correlation with the 5kmT, followed by vV _ O2max,
RE11.2, and PV, respectively. This agrees with the results of
other studies conducted with adolescent (1,13) and adult
(11,29,30) runners, both demonstrated that AT is a better pre-
dictor of long-distance events. Additionally, a landmark study
by Farrel et al. (12) has shown a strong correlation between
velocity corresponding to onset of plasma lactate accumulation
and performance at 3.2 (r = 0.91), 9.7 (r = 0.96), 15 (r = 0.97),
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19.3 (r = 0.97), and 42.2 km (r =
0.98). When the intensity of the
_ O2max, the
event is below the vV
performance seems to depend
more on aerobic capacity (AT)
than aerobic power (V _ O2max),
VIF (range)
even when associated with RE
1.2–5.5 (11). Thus, in our study, the run-
ning speed of 5 km was below
the vV _ O2max (89.60 6 5.57%)
(Table 3).
Correlation analyses indicate
that FFM and height are sig-
nificant and positive related
with 5kmT. These findings
showed the importance of con-
trol anthropometric variables
of young runners. In accordance with that, previous re-
searches showed that approximately 20–30% of the variance
in the performance (800, 1500, and 5000 m) can be explained
by 3 anthropometric variables (chest girth, upper leg length,
and triceps skinfold) in young runners (32); therefore, Tanaka
and Matsuura (32) observed that anthropometric variables
are as important as physiological variables.
During adolescence, it may be observed that there is a great
variation in body composition. The decline of %BF and
increase of FFM among young athletes occur because of
growth spurt, biological maturation, and systematic training
(20). Therefore, it is clear of the importance of considering the
variation in growth and maturation process in young athletes
involved in sports, where the body composition variables are
essential to performance. Concerning long-distance running,
in general, elite endurance runners are of small height and
have low BM (4,19). Several factors may explain the advan-
tage of smaller height and low BM in running. Previous stud-
ies have observed that smaller runners possess slim lower
limbs, which require less muscular effort in leg swing (19),
and also reduce the ground reaction forces (4) during running
exercise. Another advantage for elite runners with limited
mass is heat accumulation: heavier runners produce and store
more heat at a given submaximal running velocity, increasing
at higher environmental temperatures (21).
In our study, no significant differences were shown in the
correlation between strength and power variables (PT,
TW, and PW for extensors and flexors) and 5kmT. This
agrees with the study conducted by Cole et al. (8), in which
the isokinetic variables (PT) and power assessed by vertical
jump testing presented no correlation with cross-country
running (5 km) in trained adolescents. However, a study
with well-trained male distance runners (age, 32.0 6 0.26
years) found an inverse correlation between power (evalu-
ated by jump test) and 5kmT (17). Similarly, other studies
that evaluated middle-distance runners (800 and 1500 m)
found a significant correlation between power (evaluated
by jump test) and performance (race time) (2,29). The
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 Performance Characteristics in Young Runners
results found in our study may be explained by the test
used, in which the subject cannot perform a movement
specific to a sport involving several joints because a joint
is evaluated and the body does not move in the isokinetic
dynamometer (34). Therefore, isokinetic dynamometry is
not an effective method of evaluating the mechanical effi-
ciency of endurance running.
In the 5-km race, VVT, RE11.2, and FFM explained 71% of
the performance variation of the young runners. A previous
study conducted with adult middle-distance and long-
distance runners indicated that the physiological and anthro-
pometric variables are able to predict the performance. In
endurance runners, the V_ O2max, vV_ O2max, lactate threshold,
and RE (classic model) plus the peak treadmill velocity
(PTV) explained 97.8% of the variation in the 16-km run
time (22). In middle-distance runners, the V_ O2max, %BF,
and RE explained 89% of the performance variation in the
800-m run time (9). Moreover, other investigations have
reported that endurance running performance is dependent
on the distance of the event (11,29).
Nevertheless, the relationship between physiological
characteristics and endurance running performance is
clear for trained runners. Although our findings indicate
that some physiological variables are good predictors of
distance running performance for young runners, other
variables such as growth, body composition, and maturity
may influence the performance of long-distance running.
New studies looking into the factors that predict endur-
ance running performance in young runners may shed
light on the matter and help us to understand the
main characteristics responsible for success in running
performance.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Physiological variables (VVT, vV_ O2max, RE11.2, and PV) were
important predictors for 5kmT in young runners, which is in
line with previous reports (8). Additionally, we showed that
VVT, RE11.2, and FFM are best physiological predictors of
performance. Although there is a relative contribution of the
anaerobic energy system in 5-km events (5), we showed that
strength and muscle power variables were not good predic-
tors of the 5kmT in young runners.
Moreover, it is important to highlight that our study
showed that the regression analysis with physiological and
anthropometric variables is able to explain the 5kmT. These
results showed the practical importance of anthropometric
evaluation in the selection of young runners and also to
monitor performance, whereas growth and maturation
status may have influence. Therefore, our results highlight
that some physiological variables (VVT, vV_ O2max, RE11.2,
and PV) considered critical to long-distance performance
events (1,3,13,22,30), should be analyzed with caution in
young runners, because changes in body size and composi-
tion can affect the relationship between performance and its
predictor variables.
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