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The relationship between running velocity and heart rate has been determined in 320 runners. A deflection from the expected linearity of this relationship has been observed at sub-maximal running speeds. Deflection velocity and anaerobic threshold (established through blood lactate determination) were coincident in 10 runners, thus showing that the increase in running speed exceeding the augmentation in heart frequency above Vd depends on anaerobic ATP production.

The haemoglobin concentration of runners has been reported to be often below normal (1). In the present investigation the haemoglobin and iron concentrations and the haematocrit have been determined in 45 marathon runners examined before and after the 1982 Italian Marathon Championship and in 79 runners examined before and after the 1982 Firenze-Faenza race (107 km). The results obtained suggest that the training programs followed by the marathon runners (up to 260 km per week in the months preceding the race) are accompanied by a significant decrease of the haemoglobin and iron levels and of the haematocrit. Similar results have been observed in the participants to the Firenze-Faenza race. Nevertheless in these ultramarathoners the decrease of the haemoglobin and iron concentration and of the haematocrit are less marked, possibly because their training programs are less intense than those of the marathon runners. The findings obtained are in favour of the hypothesis that the degree of "sport anaemia" might be related to the amount of training of the athletes.

The effect of a carbohydrate loading diet on the endurance of six male marathon runners have been examined. Endurance improved in three runners, remained unchanged in two, and worsened in one. Due to the possibility of negative effects on the performance capability, a runner should experiment his personal reactions to the carbohydrate loading diet before using it regularly for long distance competitions.