International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 2020 , 15, 141-145

https://doi.Org/10.1123/ijspp,2019-0118 Human Kinetics

© 2020 Human Kinetics, Inc. ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION

Sprinting Ability as an Important Indicator of Performance in

Elite Long-Distance Runners
Ryo Yamanaka, Hayato Ohnuma, Ryosuke Ando, Fumiya Tanji,
Toshiyuki Ohya, Masahiro Hagiwara, and Yasuhiro Suzuki

Purpose: Increases in maximal oxygen uptake (V 02max) and running economy improve performance in long-distance runners.
Nevertheless, long-distance runners require sprinting ability to win, especially in the final phase of competitions. The authors
determined the relationships between performance and sprinting ability, as well as other abilities in elite long-distance runners.
Methods: The subjects were 12 elite long-distance runners. Mean official seasonal best times in 5000-m (5000 m-SB) and
10,000-m (10,000 m-SB) races within 1 year before or after the examination were 13:58.5 (0:18.7) and 28:37.9 (0:25.2) (mean
[SD]), respectively. The authors measured 100-rn and 400-m sprint times as the index of sprinting ability. They also measured
V 0 2max and running economy (V 02 at 300 m-min~' of running velocity). They used a single correlation analysis to assess
relationships between 5000 m-SB or 10,000 m-SB and other elements. Results: There were significant correlations between
5000 m-SB was significantly con-elated with 100-m sprint time (13.3 [0.7] s; r= .68, A*= .014), 400-m sprint time (56.6 [2.7] s;
r=. 69, ^= .013), and running economy (55.5 [3.9] m Lkg“ l-min“ l; r= .59, P=. 045). There were significant correlations
between 10,000 m-SB and 100-m sprint lime (r= .72, P= .009) and 400-m sprint time (r= .85, P< .001). However, there was no
significant correlation between 5000 m-SB or 10,000 m-SB and V 0 2max (72.0 [3.8] mL-kg^-min-1). Conclusions: The authors'
data suggest that sprinting ability is an important indicator of performance in elite long-distance runners.

Keywords: 400-m sprint time, running economy, standing broad jump, 100-m sprint time

As reviewed in a recent study,1 maximal oxygen uptake
(V 02max)2^t and lactate metabolism4-5 are related to performance
in long-distance runners. Running economy (RE) is another impor­
tant performance factor in long-distance runners.3-6-7 Therefore, it
is important for long-distance runners to increase V 0 2max, lactate
metabolism, and RE in order to improve their performance.
On the other hand, some studies have shown that elite long­
distance runners should also have other abilities in order to run
faster and win competitions. Yamanaka et al8 demonstrated that the
5000-m seasonal best time of elite junior long-distance runners was
comelated with the cross-sectional area of the psoas major, which is
directly related to sprinting ability.9 Moreover, Tucker et al10
showed a variation in running velocity during a world-record
performance and reported that the final kilometer lap was signifi­
cantly faster than the middle sections of 5000-m and 10,000-m
races. In addition, de Koning et al" found an exponential increase in
running velocity in the final kilometer by the winner of the Beijing
Olympics men’s 10,000-m race. Therefore, sprinting ability seems
to be an important indicator of performance for elite long-distance
runners especially in the final phase of competitions. Nevertheless,
there have been no publications reporting the relationship between
performance and sprinting ability in elite long-distance runners.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships
between performance and sprinting ability as well as other elements
Yamanaka is with the Faculty of Agro-Food Sciences, Niigata Agro-Food Univer­
sity, Niigata, Japan. Yamanaka, Ohnuma, Ando, Tanji, Ohya, Hagiwara, and Suzuki
are with the Dept of Sports Sciences, Japan Inst of Sports Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
Ohnuma is also with the Kansai University of Social Welfare, Ako, Japan. Tanji is
also with Sports Medical Science Research Inst, Tokai University, Hiratsuka, Japan.
Ohya is also with the Dept of Health Science, School of Health and Sport Sciences,
Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan. Hagiwara is also with Japan Olympic Commit­
tee, Tokyo, Japan. Yamanaka (ryo-yamanaka@nafu.ac.jp) is corresponding author.
that would be important factors for performance as previously
reported, including V 0 2max, lactate metabolism, and RE, in elite
long-distance runners. We measured 100-m and 400-m sprint times
which could assess the sprinting ability in the last phase of
competitions, and the standing broad jump as the index of leg
power, which is related to sprinting ability.12 We hypothesized that
sprinting ability is an important indicator of performance in elite
long-distance runners.
Methods
Subjects
The subjects were 12 men. Some subjects were national top-level
athletes. Mean age, height, and weight were 25.2 (2.9) years, 173.4
(5.7) cm, and 58.3 (4.1) kg, respectively. All results in this study
were expressed as mean (SD). The official average personal best
times in 5000-m and 10,000-m races were 13:52.8 (0:21.6) (13:19—
14:15) and 28:31.3 (0:30.9) (27:29-29:06), respectively. The official
average seasonal best times in 5000-m (5000 m-SB) and 10,000-m
(10,000 m-SB) races within 1 year before or after the examination
were 13:58.5 (0:18.7) (13:28-14:24) and 28:37.9 (0:25.2) (27:44-
29:10), respectively. We defined the 5000 m-SB and 10,000 m-SB
as the index of performance in the long-distance runners.
The protocol was reviewed and approved by the research ethics
committee of the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences in accordance
with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent
was obtained from each subject prior to examination.
Methodology
Each subject performed
Sprinting Ability a n d Leg P o w e r Ability.
100-m and 400-m sprints to measure sprinting ability using a
141
142 Yam anaka et al
wireless phototube system (Brower TCi Timing Systems; HaB
International Ltd. England, United Kingdom) on a 400-m all-
weather running track. Each subject warmed up for 20 minutes
and then performed two 100-m trials and one 400-m trial from a
standing start. We recorded the fastest 100-m time.
We also measured standing broad jumps as an index of
leg power ability measured in a sandpit 2 times. We recorded
the longest jump.
Aerobic Ability. Each subject performed a step exercise test and a
graded exercise test to determine V 0 2max, RE, and lactate metab­
olism. All exercise tests were carried out on a computer-controlled
treadmill. After a 15-minute warm-up, each subject performed the
step exercise test, which consisted of 5 levels steps (270, 300, 330,
360, and 390 m-min-1 of running velocity) with no slope angle
(0%). Duration time of each step and rest time between steps were
3 minutes and 1 minute, respectively. Three minutes after the end of
the step exercise test, each subject performed the graded exercise
test until they could not run al the running velocity. The running
velocity of the graded exercise test started at 390 m-min-1 and
increased 10 nt-min-1 every minute (390, 400, 410, 420, 430, 440,
450, 460 m-min-1, . . . ) with no slope angle (0%).
During the 2 exercise tests, expired 0 2 and C 0 2 were mea­
sured using a respiratory gas analyzer (AE-310S; Minato Medical
Science, Osaka, Japan), which was calibrated prior to each test with
a standard syringe and 2 precision reference gases. For analysis,
0 2 uptake (V 0 2) was determined by averaging the data over
30-second intervals. Maximal V 0 2 (V 02max) was defined as
the highest V 0 2 value during the 2 tests. We defined V 0 2 at
300 m-min-1 of running velocity as RE.
During the step exercise test, we collected blood samples from
the fingertips. The samples were analyzed using a lactate analyzer
(Lactate Pro 2; Arkray, Kyoto, Japan) to measure lactate ion concen­
tration in the blood. Blood was sampled at the end of every stage
during the step exercise test. We calculated the running velocities at 2
and 4 mmol-L-1 of lactate ion concentration in the blood from the
results of analysis during the step exercise test using the least squares
method.
Statistical Analysis
Statistical analyses were performed using statistics processing
software (SPSS 19.0.0 for Windows; IBM Japan Ltd, Tokyo,
Figure 1 — Relationships of 5000-m seasonal best time with 100-m and 400-m sprint times.
IJS P P Vol. 15, No. 1, 2020
Japan). All results were expressed as mean (SD). Spearman
correlation coefficient was used to assess a single correlation
between 5000 m-SB or 10,000 m-SB and the other variables,
because our data were skewed. Stepwise multiple linear regression
analysis was used to assess the relationships between 5000 m-SB or
10,000 m-SB and 2 or more independent variables. A value of
P c . 05 was considered as statistically significant.
Results
Significant correlations were identified between 5000 m-SB and
100-m sprint time (13.3 [0.7] s; r - .68, P - .014), and 400-m sprint
time (56.6 [2.7] s; r=. 69. P=.013), respectively (Figure 1). Sig­
nificant correlations were identified between 10,000 m-SB and
100-m sprint time (r = .72, P = .009), and 400-m sprint time (r = .85,
P < .001), respectively (Figure 2). There was a significant correla­
tion between 5000 m-SB and standing broad jump (2.1 [0.1] m;
r = -.77, P - .004) but no significant correlation between 10,000 m-
SB and standing broad jump (r= -.5 5 , P = .064) (Figure 3).
There was a significant correlation between 5000 m-SB and RE
(55.5 [3.9] mL-kg- -min-1; r - .59, P = .045) but no significant corre­
lation between 10,000 m-SB and RE (r=.57, P=.055) (Figure 4).
There was no significant correlation between 5000 m-SB
or 10,000 m-SB and VCL max (72.0 [3.8] mL-kg-1-min-1)
(5000 m-SB: r = - . l 1, P = ,75; 10,000 m-SB: r= .25,"p = .443).
Moreover, there were no significant correlations between 5000
m-SB or 10,000 m-SB and running velocities at 2 mmol-L-1 (321
[13] m-min-1) (5000 m-SB: r= .04, P = .914; 10,000m-SB: r = .21,
P - . 948) and 4 mmol-L-1 (352 [11] m-min-1) (5000 m-SB:
r = —.25, P = .429; 10,000 m-SB: r = ~ . 22, P = .484) of lactate
ion concentration in the blood.
We found that 5000 m-SB significantly correlated with only
400-m sprint time (F = 14.279, P = .004) by multiple linear regres­
sion analysis. The contribution and standard error of the estimate
value were 58.8% { r - .11) and 13.1 seconds, respectively. More­
over. 10,000 m-SB was significantly correlated with only 400-m
sprint time (P = 14.958, P=.003) by multiple linear regression
analysis. The contribution and standard error of the estimate value
were 59.9% (r= .77) and 17.5 seconds, respectively.
The time range between the performance of long-distance
runners (5000 m-SB and 10,000 m-SB) and the examination was
3 months to 1 year.
5o °
?
o
Q o
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Z
6
r = .69
P = .013
52 56 60 64
400-m sprint time (s)
 1760 r

o 6
V
3 1740 -
cu
6
y
1720 ■

/o
1700 -

1680 -
o
o
o
o
o ' 1660 • o o
r = .72 r =.85
P = .009 R <.001
1640 -
11 12 13 14 15 48 52 56 60 64
100-m sprint time (s) 400-m sprint time (s)

Figure 2 Relationships of 10,000-m seasonal best time with 100-m and 400-m sprint times.

Figure 3 — Relationship of 5000-m seasonal best time with standing broad jump and relationship of 10,000-m seasonal best time with standing broad jump.

Figure 4 — Relationship of 5000-m seasonal best time with running economy and relationship of 10,000-m seasonal best time with running economy.
Running economy indicated oxygen uptake at 300 m-min-1 of the running velocity.

1JSPP Vol. 15, No. 1, 2020 143

144 Yam anaka et al
Discussion
We examined the relationships between performance and sprinting
ability, V 0 2max, RE, leg power ability, and lactate metabolism in
elite long-distance runners. The main findings in the present study
were the following: (1) there were significant correlations between
5000 m-SB and 100-m sprint time, 400-m sprint time, standing
broad jump, and RE and between 10,000 m-SB and 100-m sprint
time and 400-m sprint time; (2) there were no significant correla­
tions between 5000 m-SB or 10,000 m-SB and V 0 2max and the
running velocities at 2 and 4 m m olL -1 of lactate ion concentration
in the blood.
Despite the fact that sprinting ability is important for long­
distance runners, especially in the final sprint of a race, there have
been no studies determining the relationship between performance
and sprinting ability in long-distance runners. We demonstrated for
the first time that sprinting ability such as 100-m and 400-m sprint
times was significantly correlated with performance in elite long­
distance runners. Moreover, we also found that leg power ability
such as standing broad jump, which is related to sprinting ability,12
was significantly correlated with performance in elite long-distance
runners. Furthermore, the 400-m sprint time was the primary factor
of performance in elite long-distance runners according to multiple
linear regression analysis. A previous study considered a change
of running velocity in the 10,000-m race at the 2008 Beijing
Olympic Games, indicating that the running velocity of the gold
medalist during the last kilometer suddenly increased to a high
value (8 m s-1).11 This was higher than the average velocity of the
100-m sprint (7.5 [0.4] m s_1) in this study. This result supports our
hypothesis that long-distance athletes should have sprinting ability
in order to win especially in the final phase of competitions at the
world-class level. Moreover, some training studies that did not
examine the relationship between performance and sprinting ability
demonstrated that performance of long-distance runners increased
with an increase in sprinting ability, following sprint interval
training13’14 and explosive strength training.15 Therefore, we sug­
gested that sprinting ability is an important indicator of perfor­
mance in elite long-distance runners.
In the present study, RE was significantly correlated with 5000
m-SB and tended to be correlated with 10,000 m-SB, although
there were no significant correlations between 5000 m-SB or
10,000 m-SB and RE by multiple linear regression analysis.
Therefore, RE would be a factor determining performance in
long-distance runners in the present study as well as previous
study.3-6 On the other hand, the performance of elite long-distance
runners did not significantly correlate with V 0 2max or lactate
metabolism in the present study, although previous studies sug­
gested that V 0 2max2-4 and lactate metabolism4-5 were indicators
of performance in long-distance runners. A previous study of
V 0 2m ax16-18 and lactate metabolism8 and performance levels in
elite athletes and well-trained but nonelite athletes showed the same
results as those of this study. The reason why 5000 m-SB did not
correlate with V 0 2max or lactate metabolism might be due to the
homogeneity of subject ability in our study and previous studies.
The coefficient of variation in these studies that showed no
relationship between performance and V 0 2max or lactate metabo­
lism in long-distance runners was low in V 0 2max (1.7% 17) and
lactate metabolism (running velocity at 2 mmol-L-1 of lactate ion
concentration; 4.9%8); similar findings were found in the present
study (V 0 2max: 5.3%, lactate metabolism: 3.9%). On the other
hand, the coefficient of variation that showed the relationship
between performance and V 0 2max or lactate metabolism in
IJSPP Vol. 15, No. 1, 2020
long-distance runners tended to be high in V 0 2max (9.0% 19,
13.9%20) and lactate metabolism (16.9%5). Therefore, the lack
of correlations between performance and V 0 2max, and between
performance and lactate metabolism were not characteristic of elite
long-distance runners in this study, because athletes with similar
performance levels would have similar levels of V 0 2max and
lactate metabolism. Moreover, Saunders et al7 showed that RE was
a better indicator of performance than V 0 2max in elite long­
distance runners. Therefore, we suggest that RE is not an indicator
but a factor of performance for long-distance runners as previously
reported; however, V 0 2max and lactate metabolism might not be
indicators of performance in elite long-distance runners, despite the
fact that it might be important for elite long-distance runners to
have high values of V 0 2max and lactate metabolism.
Practical Application
Our findings would benefit long-distance runners. Some studies
have suggested that sprint training contributes to improvement of
not only sprinting ability, but also RE,21 V 0 2max,22 and glycogen
content in m uscles.13 Moreover, sprint training might result in
lower levels of relative force production, thereby delaying recruit­
ment of higher threshold muscle fibers and thus providing a
fatigue-resistant effect.23 Therefore, it would be more important
for long-distance runners to enhance their sprinting ability than has
been previously suggested.
This study has one limitation; performance of long-distance
runners was not measured at the same time as other measurements.
(The time differences ranged from 3 mo to 1 y.) Measuring the
performance and the other measurements in the same period should
be considered for future studies.
Conclusion
There were significant relationships between performance, sprint­
ing ability, and RE. Our results suggested that sprinting ability is an
important indicator of performance and RE is a factor of perfor­
mance of elite long-distance runners, despite the premise of having
high levels of V 0 2max and lactate metabolism.
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