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Sports Medicine
Published in: Sports Medicine 4-5/2007

01-04-2007 | Conference Paper

Physiological Regulation of Marathon Performance

Author: Professor Edward F. Coyle

Published in: Sports Medicine | Issue 4-5/2007

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Abstract

Running a marathon at the fastest speed possible appears to be regulated by the rate of aerobic metabolism (i.e. marathon oxygen uptake) of a limited amount of carbohydrate energy (i.e. muscle glycogen and blood glucose) and the velocity that can be maintained without developing hyperthermia. According to a model proposed by Joyner in 1991, people possess the physiological ability to run a marathon in ≈1:58:00. This could be accomplished if the current world record pace for the ‘half-marathon’ is maintained for the entire marathon. The ultimate limit to marathon performance might be dictated by the limits of running economy and a recruitment of the running musculature with a pattern that minimises fatigue, possibly by spreading the work over many motor neuron.
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Metadata
Title
Physiological Regulation of Marathon Performance
Author
Professor Edward F. Coyle
Publication date
01-04-2007
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Sports Medicine / Issue 4-5/2007
Print ISSN: 0112-1642
Electronic ISSN: 1179-2035
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200737040-00009

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