The aim of this study was to determine which physiological variables predict excellence in middle- and long-distance runners. Forty middle-distance runners (age 23 ± 4 years, body mass 67.2 ± 5.9 kg, stature 1.80 ± 0.05 m, VO2max 65.9 ± 4.5 ml/kg·min) and 32 long-distance runners (age 25 ± 4 years, body mass 59.8 ± 5.1 kg, stature 1.73 ± 0.06 m, VO2max 71.6 ± 5.0 ml/kg·min) competing at international standard performed an incremental running test to exhaustion. Expired gas analysis was performed breath-by-breath and maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) and two ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2) were calculated. Long-distance runners presented a higher VO2max than middle-distance runners when expressed relative to body mass (P < 0.001, d = 1.18, 95% CI [0.68, 1.68]). At the intensities corresponding to VT1 and VT2, long-distance runners showed higher values for VO2 expressed relative to body mass or %VO2max, speed and oxygen cost of running (P < 0.05). When oxygen uptake was adjusted for body mass, differences between groups were consistent. Logistic binary regression analysis showed that VO2max (expressed as l/ min and ml/kg·min), VO2VT2 (expressed as ml · kg-0.94/min), and speed at VT2 (v VT2) categorized long-distance runners. In addition, the multivariate model correctly classified 84.7% of the athletes. Thus, VO2max, VO2VT2, and v VT2 discriminate between elite middle-distance and long-distance runners.
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