Relationship of training and life-style to 16-km running time of 4000 joggers. The '84 Berne "Grand-Prix" Study.

To investigate running activity, life-style, and endurance capacity of joggers, all competitors of a popular 16-km race were surveyed by questionnaire. The response rate was 83.6%, yielding a study population of 4358 male runners over age 16. In univariate analysis, there were significant associations between 16-km running time and weekly training distance (average of 1 year), weekly training frequency, body mass index (BMI), age, cigarette smoking, years of regular running, and frequency of alcohol cosumption. A multiple regression analysis provided six significant, independent predictors of 16-km time, explaining 47% of its variance: weekly training distance (standardized regression coefficient = -0.46), age (0.37), BMI (0.23), years of regular running (-0.19), weekly training frequency (-0.11), and cigarette smoking (0.10). Based on laboratory treadmill testing of a subsample of runners, 16-km running times were transformed into maximum aerobic capacities (VO2 max equivalents) for all competitors. In comparison with the general population, even the slowest 5% of the runners showed a higher endurance capacity than the age-specific population mean. Application of the multivariate regression model for an estimation of the overall impact of training and life-style on endurance capacity showed that the great difference in mean endurance levels between joggers and the general population could entirely be attributed to differences in running activity, BMI, and smoking. We conclude that the joggers investigated were, on average, not selected concerning biological predisposition and genetic endowment since their behavior alone explained their high average endurance capacity.