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The aims of this study were to use the Maximal Aerobic Speed (MAS) to set training intensities for aerobic training and to measure the effects of two different training programmes on MAS and on the running time to exhaustion at 100% of MAS (Tlim) for 121 students aged 14 to 17 years. The MAS was measured using the Universite de Montreal Track Test (UMTT). This measurement was found reproducible for males (r=0.93) and females (r=0.68). The Students followed a 12-week training programme of one weekly training session. The MAS and the Tlim were measured the weeks before and after training. Two training programmes were proposed (intense training programme and moderate training programme). These training programmes differed by the ratio between continuous exercises (85% of MAS) and intermittent exercises (between 90% and 120% of MAS). For the moderate training programme, the ratio between continuous and intermittent exercises was greater than for the intensive training programme. Twenty subjects served as control group. The students MAS and Tlim (mean+SD) were respectively 13.7+/-1.6 kmx h-1 and 380.5+/-91.8 s for the males and 11.3+/-1.2 km x h-1 and 347.2+/-91.1 s for the females. Our results indicated that only the subjects of the intense training group improved their MAS:+5.7% for the males (p<0.001) and +5.4% for the females (p<0.001). In neither case was Tlim significantly improved with training. In conclusion, we can notice that MAS is a pertinent criterion to set training intensities for aerobic training and that a weekly training session over 12 weeks is sufficient to moderately improve the MAS of initially untrained students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of the study was to test the ability to determine the velocity associated with peak oxygen uptake for adolescents by means of a simple field test, the Université de Montréal Track Test (UMTT)., Methods: Fifteen adolescents, 13.4 +/- 1.0 years, performed two maximal field tests where oxygen uptake and heart rate were continuously monitored. The first test (graded field test, first stage 8 km.h-1, increment 1.5 km.h-1, duration 3 min) allowed the subjects to reach a steady-state oxygen uptake. Then, the velocity associated with peak oxygen uptake was calculated from the ratio between peak oxygen uptake above resting level to energy cost of running. The calculated velocity was kept as the criterion velocity. For the second test (UMTT, first stage 8 km.h-1; increment 1 km.h-1; duration 2 min), the velocity measured at the last completed stage was retained., Results: The measured peak oxygen uptake for the graded field test (51.8 +/- 6.5 ml.kg-1.min-1) and for the UMTT (51.0 +/- 7.9 ml.kg-1.min-1) were not significantly different. The calculated velocity (12.9 +/- 1.0 km.h-1) and the measured velocity (12.7 +/- 0.9 km.h-1) were not significantly different and were significantly correlated (r = 0.80, p < 0.001)., Conclusions: It was concluded that, for adolescents, the velocity measured at the last completed stage of the UMTT allows a valid estimation of the velocity associated with peak oxygen uptake.