The purpose of the present study was to compare the critical speed (CS) with the speed at the maximal lactate steady state (vMLSS) determined by a continuous and an intermittent model in trained runners. Eight male endurance runners (30.3 ± 10.6 years; 65.0 ± 8.5 kg; 1.73 ± 0.6 m; 11.3 ± 4.0% body fat) volunteered for this investigation and performed an incremental treadmill test, as well as 2-5 30-min constant speed tests to determine the MLSS continuous and MLSS intermittent (5 min of running, interspaced by 1 min of passive rest). The CS was determined by 2 maximal running efforts of 1500 and 3000 m performed on a 400 m running track. The CS was calculated as the slope of the linear regression of distance versus time. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between CS and MLSS determined by intermittent running (15.2 ± 1.0 km·h(-1) vs. 15.3 ± 0.7 km·h(-1), respectively), however, both were significantly higher than continuous MLSS (14.4 ± 0.6 km·h(-1)). There was also a significant correlation between CS and MLSS intermittent (r = 0.84, p = 0.008). On the basis of the present results, we conclude that for practical reasons (low cost, non-invasive) the CS is an interesting and alternative method to prescribe endurance interval training at maximal lactate steady state intensity, in preference to a continuous protocol.
Keywords: Maximal lactate steady state; critical speed; interval training.