Final answer:
To achieve an elite marathon time, an athlete must have a superior VO2 max, a high lactate threshold, an excellent running economy, and a high proportion of slow-twitch muscle fibers; all of these components are essential.
Step-by-step explanation:
To complete a marathon in an elite time, an athlete must possess several key physiological characteristics. These include a superior VO2 max, a high lactate threshold (e.g., approximately 80% VO2 max), excellent running economy, and a high proportion of slow-twitch muscle fibers. VO2 max is a measure of the maximum volume of oxygen an athlete can use, which is crucial for endurance sports.
The lactate threshold indicates the intensity at which a runner begins to accumulate lactic acid in the blood, affecting their endurance.
Running economy reflects how efficiently a runner uses oxygen while running at a steady pace. Lastly, slow-twitch muscle fibers are more efficient at using oxygen to produce energy for continuous, extended muscle contractions over a long time. Combining all these factors is essential for achieving elite marathon times.