Abstract
Purpose: To describe heart rate (HR) and blood lactate (Bla−) responses during high-intensity interval training (HIT) in a long-term block-periodized HIT regimen in world-class cross-country (XC) skiers.Methods: Data were collected in 14 world-class female XC skiers (aged 25 ± 5 years; body mass, 60.4 ± 6.5 kg; and maximal HR, 194 ± 8 beats · min−1) throughout three entire seasons. The HR and Bla− values were determined at the end of 572 intervals performed during 63 sessions and 17 HIT blocks utilizing different exercise modes: running, running with poles, and skiing (on-snow and roller ski) with classic and skating techniques.Results: The mean HR was 91 ± 3% of HRmax with a corresponding Bla− of 7.3 ± 2.1 mmol · L−1. The average HR and Bla− values were relatively similar across the different exercise modes, except for a lower HR (~90 vs. 92% of HRmax) for on-snow and roller ski classical skiing and lower Bla− values (5.9 vs. 7.0–7.8 mmol · L−1) for on-snow classical skiing compared to the other modes, both P < 0.05. An increase in HR and Bla− was observed from interval working periods 1 to 3 (90–92% of HRmax and 6.5–7.7 mmol · L−1) and further from 3 to 5 (92–93% of HRmax and 7.7–9.0 mmol · L−1), all P < 0.05.Conclusions: We describe long-term use of HIT-block periodization among world-class XC skiers who achieved target HR and Bla− levels in all six exercise modes employed. According to athletes and coaches, the key to successful blocks was intensity control to allow for high-quality HIT sessions throughout the entire HIT block.
Highlights
Cross-country (XC) skiing is a demanding endurance sport, where top athletes have achieved some of the highest maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) levels ever reported in scientific literature
Most studies have reported that the periodization of high-intensity training (HIT) vs. moderate-intensity training (MIT) and low-intensity training (LIT) in endurance sports is achieved via the traditional periodization model (TRAD) (Matwejew, 1975; Issurin, 2008; Tønnessen et al, 2014), characterized by a mixed focus on LIT, MIT, and HIT in all periods but with a gradual progression from high training volume to higher training intensity as the competition period approaches
Data were collected as part of routine testing during 17 training camps and 63 HIT sessions, with Bla− and heart rate (HR) values determined at the end of 572 distinct intervals
Summary
Cross-country (XC) skiing is a demanding endurance sport, where top athletes have achieved some of the highest maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) levels ever reported in scientific literature. A meta-analysis concluded that BP of HIT is an adequate, alternative strategy with potentially higher training effects than TRAD for trained to well-trained athletes (Mølmen et al, 2019). All these studies have compared the different periodization models by matching the overall HIT volume, whereas in practice, athletes use BP of HIT to increase the overall HIT stimuli (Solli et al, 2019)
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