Associations Between Post-Wingate Blood Gas and Acid–Base Changes and Anaerobic Performance in Elite Male Marathon Runners

Elit Erkek Maraton Koşucularında Wingate Anaerobik Güç Testi Sonrası Kan Gazı ve Asit–Baz Yanıtlarının Anaerobik Performans ile İlişkisi

Tolga ALTUй

*Correspondence: Tolga ALTUĞ E-mail: taltug@agri.edu.tr
¹Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Ağrı, Türkiye E-mail: taltug@agri.edu.tr ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6318-0107

Doi: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18909877

https://www.ijoss.org/Archive/v3-i1/ijoss-Volume3-issue1-20.pdf

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Received / Gönderim: 25.12.2025 Accepted / Kabul: 25.02.2026 Published / Yayın: 28.02.2026

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated post-Wingate changes in blood gas and acid–base parameters in elite male marathon runners competing at the Olympic level. Associations between these responses and anaerobic performance indicators were also explored. Methods: Elite male marathon runners (n = 28) voluntarily participated in the study. All participants completed a standard Wingate Anaerobic Power Test during a single testing session. Mean power output and fatigue index were recorded as indicators of anaerobic performance. Blood gas and acid–base parameters were measured immediately before the test and at three minutes post-exercise. Pre–post comparisons were analysed using paired-samples t-tests, and correlations between performance indicators and physiological variables were examined using Pearson correlation analysis. Results: Following the Wingate test, statistically significant changes were observed in pH, pO₂, pCO₂, and HCO₃⁻ values (p < 0.001), whereas the increase in lactate levels was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). A significant positive correlation was identified between mean power and ΔpO₂ (p < 0.05), while no other significant associations were observed. Conclusion: Overall, the findings indicate that although the Wingate test induces measurable systemic acid–base alterations in elite marathon runners, these physiological responses show only limited associations with anaerobic performance indicators.

Keywords Acid–base balance, anaerobic performance, blood gas analysis, marathon runners, Wingate test.

ÖZ

Amaç: Bu çalışma, Olimpik düzeyde yarışan elit erkek maraton koşucularında Wingate testi sonrası kan gazı ve asit–baz parametrelerindeki değişimleri incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Ayrıca bu fizyolojik yanıtların anaerobik performans göstergeleri ile olan ilişkileri de araştırılmıştır. Yöntem: Çalışmaya elit erkek maraton koşucuları (n = 28) gönüllü olarak katılmıştır. Tüm katılımcılar tek bir test oturumunda standart Wingate Anaerobik Güç Testini tamamlamıştır. Anaerobik performans göstergeleri olarak ortalama güç çıktısı ve yorgunluk indeksi kaydedilmiştir. Kan gazı ve asit–baz parametreleri testten hemen önce ve egzersizden üç dakika sonra ölçülmüştür. Ön test–son test karşılaştırmaları eşleştirilmiş örneklemler t-testi ile analiz edilmiş, performans göstergeleri ile fizyolojik değişkenler arasındaki ilişkiler Pearson korelasyon analizi ile incelenmiştir. Bulgular: Wingate testi sonrasında pH, pO₂, pCO₂ ve HCO₃⁻ değerlerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı değişimler gözlenmiştir (p < 0.001). Buna karşın laktat düzeylerindeki artış istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmamıştır (p > 0.05). Ortalama güç ile ΔpO₂ arasında anlamlı pozitif bir korelasyon tespit edilmiş (p < 0.05), diğer değişkenler arasında ise anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmamıştır. Sonuç: Genel olarak bulgular, Wingate testinin elit maraton koşucularında ölçülebilir sistemik asit–baz değişikliklerine yol açtığını; ancak bu fizyolojik yanıtların anaerobik performans göstergeleri ile yalnızca sınırlı düzeyde ilişkili olduğunu göstermektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler Asit–baz dengesi, anaerobik performans, kan gazı analizi, maraton koşucuları, Wingate.

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