The effects of the use of the mask for gas analysis on the submaximal and maximal physiological and perceptual variables in response to an incremental test

 e maximum aerobic velocity (MAV) predicts running performance of middle and long distance athletes. Moreover, it can be used in the control and prescription of exercise training.  e MAV represents the minimum velocity associated with the maximum oxygen consumption (VO 2max ) and, it is an indicative of the individual aerobic power. In the 80th and 90th di€ erent methodologies have been proposed to determine the MAV. However, these methods have resulted in contradictory results (i.e., di€ erences in velocity values). Moreover, the protocol selection can in uence this measure. Noakes et al. demonstrated that the Scrimgeour et al. method, based on peak velocity (V peak ), performed with an incremental protocol on a treadmill, is capable to predict runners’ performance in long distance races (10 to 90 km). Additionally, the authors suggested that muscular factors related to power capacity, and not the cardiovascular system, limited this variable.  e use of V peak to monitor athletes’ performance during a season has many advantages for coaches and researchers, given that it can be determined without the mask for gas analysis and neither more invasive techniques, such as blood collection (e.g., blood lactate). However, several previous studies have determined the Vpeak with these procedures. To the best of authors knowledge, only one study determined the V peak with a “clean” protocol (that is, without the mask) and showed a correlation of 0.89 in a 16 km time-trial. Abstract