This talk will introduce the concept of physiological resilience or durability and highlight its importance as an independent determinant of endurance exercise performance. This can be illustrated through studies on truly elite athletes. For example, in Nike`s `Breaking 2` marathon project, measurements of VO2max, fractional utilization of VO2max and running economy in a fresh condition provided reasonably accurate predictions of performance and were used to identify which elite athletes were best equipped physiologically to attempt to break the 2-hour marathon barrier. Of the athletes selected, however, only Eliud Kipchoge has achieved this feat, and his performances are exceptional compared to his peers - suggesting that he has superior resilience compared to his rivals. Recent studies indicate that not only do physiological variables such as exercise efficiency and critical power deteriorate during prolonged, fatiguing exercise, but that the extent of this deterioration is highly variable between individuals (for example, 1-32% for critical power). Moreover, in the field, the degree of uncoupling between heart rate and speed during endurance exercise has been shown to be an important metric of performance. The basis for these differences in neuromuscular fatigability and metabolic stability will be discussed with comparisons drawn between elite East African runners and their Caucasian counterparts. With greater recognition of the importance of physiological resilience to success in endurance sports, it is important to consider and/or develop interventions which might help athletes improve their resilience and therefore their performance. These interventions may include training methods, nutrition (particularly carbohydrate intake), ergogenic aids, pacing strategy and advancements in sports technology (including running "super shoes").
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