Author and graduation date: Connie EPPERSON, May, 2000

Committee members: Michael Buono (Chair), Fred Kolkhorst, Colleen Kelly

Thesis title: The Correlation Between Running Performance and Physiological Variables in Females Following 12 Weeks of Endurance Training

This study examined the correlation between the change in selected physiological variables versus a 4.8 km time trial following 12 weeks of endurance training. Fourteen females from San Diego State University's cross-country team volunteered for the study. All runners were tested pre- and post-training for maximal oxygen uptake (VO2), running economy (RE), onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA), lactate threshold (LT),running velocity at a blood lactate concentration of 4mM (4mM), and performance in a 4.8 km time trial. Pearson Product Moment Correlations revealed a significant (p < 0.05) correlation (r = 0.63) between the change in percent body fat, V02 (r = -0.62), and 4mM (r = -0.74) with 4.8 km run time. However, no significant correlation was found for RE, OBLA, or LT. The results of this study suggest that of the blood lactate parameters tested, running velocity at a blood lactate concentration of 4mM was most highly correlated with the changes in run time following 12 weeks of endurance training.

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