During the period in which there are no competitive races, two runners--Runners A and Runners B--take part in an experiment measuring their VO2 max, the volume of oxygen an athlete can use  During these sessions, the runners engaged in moderate aerobic activity, or a sustained heart rate between 146-154 beats per minute  At the end of the sessions, Runner A had a greater VO2 max than did Runner B
Ttherefore, once the two runners begin identical intensive training--sessions involving over 168 beats per minute-- for the race season, Runner A will continue to have the greater VO2 max, assuming that neither become injured and that both train with similar intensity
Regarding their VO2 maxes, runners respond equally to intensive training.