RELATION OF OXYGEN INTAKE AND VELOCITY OF WALKING AND RUNNING IN COMPETITION WALKERS

1. The oxygen intake of four Olympic walkers was measured while walking and running at varying velocities on a treadmill at an altitude of 1800 m. 2. The relation between O2 intake and running at speeds between 8 km/hr and 21 km/hr was linear. The relation for walking at speeds up to 8 km/hr followed an upward concave curve. These findings were similar to results obtained at sea level by other investigators. 3. For walking at speeds between 8 km/hr and 14·5 km/hr the relation of O2 intake and velocity was a straight line having a slope twice that of running. 4. Maximum O2 intake in walking averaged 60·0 ml./kg/min (range 55·8‐64·1 ml./kg/min) compared with 57·4 ml./kg/min (range 55·2‐60·2 ml./kg/min) in running. An international class long distance runner serving as a control reached a maximum O2 intake of 70 ml./kg/min. © 1968 The Physiological Society