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MAS is determined from the relationship between maximal V\u0307O\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    (V\u0307O\n                    <jats:sub>2max<\/jats:sub>\n                    ) and running economy, the latter also expressed as the O\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    cost of running. There is no standardized method for determination of MAS in the literature, but three approaches are more dominant: the first approach consists of determining a loss of linearity between V\u0307O\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    and speed. The second approach performs a linear extrapolation from the relationship between submaximal V\u0307O\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    and speed towards V\u0307O\n                    <jats:sub>2max<\/jats:sub>\n                    . The third approach divides V\u0307O\n                    <jats:sub>2max<\/jats:sub>\n                    by the O\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    cost of running measured over one or more speeds. We explore the assumptions and flaws of the different approaches. We show that the first approach lacks sufficient objectivity. The second approach, based on linear extrapolation, is prone to significant error, particularly when changes in O\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    cost happen at the lower or higher speeds tested, to the extent that higher sub-maximal V\u0307O\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    for a given speed results in improved MAS and vice-versa. We suggest that MAS should be assessed using a simple division of V\u0307O\n                    <jats:sub>2max<\/jats:sub>\n                    by the O\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    cost of running determined from a race-relevant speed, which can be easily integrated into a single testing session.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-026-06331-5","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T06:38:39Z","timestamp":1785393519000},"page":"5101-5106","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Maximal aerobic speed: methodological implications and unintended consequences"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"126","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6946-8515","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fernando Gabe","family":"Beltrami","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4284-4562","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"\u00d8yvind","family":"St\u00f8ren","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7796-5594","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jan","family":"Helgerud","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"6331_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsams.2013.07.012","author":"FG Beltrami","year":"2014","unstructured":"Beltrami FG, Wong DP, Noakes TD (2014) High prevalence of false-positive plateau phenomena during VO\u2009<\u2009inf>2max testing in adolescents. 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