Verification Testing to Confirm VO sub(2) max in Altitude-Residing, Endurance-Trained Runners

We sought to explore the utility of the verification trial to confirm individual attainment of 'true' VO sub(2) max in altitude-residing, endurance-trained runners during treadmill exercise. 24 elite endurance-trained men and women runners (age=21.5+ or -3.3yr, ht=174.8+ or -9.3cm, body mass=60.5+ or -6.7kg, PR 800m 127.5+ or -13.1s) completed a graded exercise test (GXT) trial (VO sub(2) max=60.0+ or -5.8mL[middot]kg super(-1)[middot]min super(-1)), and returned 20min after incremental exercise to complete a verification trial (VO sub(2) max=59.6+ or -5.7mL[middot]kg super(-1)[middot]min super(-1)) of constant load, supramaximal exercise. The incidence of 'true' VO sub(2) max confirmation using the verification trial was 24/24 (100%) with all participants revealing differences in VO sub(2) max[< or =]3% (the technical error of our equipment) between the GXT and verification trials. These findings support use of the verification trial to confirm VO sub(2) max attainment in altitude-residing, endurance-trained runners.