Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate retrospectively the training intensity distribution (TID) among highly trained canoe sprinters during a single season and to relate TID to changes in performance.Methods: The heart rates during on-water training by 11 German sprint kayakers (7 women, 4 men) and one male canoeist were monitored during preparation periods (PP) 1 and 2, as well as during the period of competition (CP) (total monitoring period: 37 weeks). The zones of training intensity (Z) were defined as Z1 [<80% of peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak)], Z2 (81–87% VO2peak) and Z3 (>87% VO2peak), as determined by 4 × 1,500-m incremental testing on-water. Prior to and after each period, the time required to complete the last 1,500-m stage (all-out) of the incremental test (1,500-m time-trial), velocities associated with 2 and 4 mmol·L−1 blood lactate (v2[BLa], v4[BLa]) and VO2peak were determined.Results: During each period, the mean TID for the entire group was pyramidal (PP1: 84/12/4%, PP2: 80/12/8% and CP: 91/5/4% for Z1, Z2, Z3) and total training time on-water increased from 5.0 ± 0.9 h (PP1) to 6.1 ± 0.9 h (PP2) and 6.5 ± 1.0 h (CP). The individual ranges for Z1, Z2 and Z3 were 61–96, 2–26 and 0–19%. During PP2 VO2peak (25.5 ± 11.4%) markedly increased compared to PP1 and CP and during PP1 v2[bla] (3.6 ± 3.4%) showed greater improvement compared to PP2, but not to CP. All variables related to performance improved as the season progressed, but no other effects were observed. With respect to time-trial performance, the time spent in Z1 (r = 0.66, p = 0.01) and total time in all three zones (r = 0.66, p = 0.01) showed positive correlations, while the time spent in Z2 (r = −0.57, p = 0.04) was negatively correlated.Conclusions: This seasonal analysis of the effects of training revealed extensive inter-individual variability. Overall, TID was pyramidal during the entire period of observation, with a tendency toward improvement in VO2peak, v2[bla], v4[bla] and time-trial performance. During PP2, when the COVID-19 lockdown was in place, the proportion of time spent in Z3 doubled, while that spent in Z1 was lowered; the total time spent training on water increased; these changes may have accentuated the improvement in performance during this period. A further increase in total on-water training time during CP was made possible by reductions in the proportions of time spent in Z2 and Z3, so that more fractions of time was spent in Z1.
Highlights
Both coaches and researchers have sought to improve the performance of endurance athletes by determining the optimal schedule for training intensity (Stöggl and Sperlich, 2015)
Our observation that over the course of the season the pyramidal training intensity distribution (TID) of elite kayakers and canoeists tends to become more polarized, with a substantial increase in the time spent in Zone 1 (Z1) and less in Z2 and Z3, is in accordance with earlier reports on elite athletes participating in a variety of endurance sports, including rowing (Guellich et al, 2009; Plews et al, 2014), cross-country skiing (Sandbakk et al, 2011; Tønnessen et al, 2014; Solli et al, 2017), running (Robinson et al, 1991) and cycling (Lucía et al, 2000) (Figure 3D)
Our findings indicate that PP2 elicited improvements in v4[BLa] (2.7%), VO2peak (25.5%) and 1,500-m time-trial performance (3.5%), probably by increasing the training time spent in Z3 at the expense of Z1
Summary
Both coaches and researchers have sought to improve the performance of endurance athletes by determining the optimal schedule for training intensity (Stöggl and Sperlich, 2015) This intensity is routinely categorized into 3–5 different zones, depending on the sport, the approach of the sports federation concerned to diagnosing performance, monitoring of training, and the availability of appropriate technology (Stöggl and Sperlich, 2015). [For further details concerning the concepts of aerobic and anaerobic thresholds, please see Faude et al (2009)] With this model, exercise performed predominantly in Z1 is often referred to as low-intensity continuous exercise or aerobic endurance training, Z2 as “threshold training” and Z3 as high-intensity interval training (Stöggl and Sperlich, 2015). A combination of all three zones involving substantial training in Z1 with relatively decreasing proportions of Z2 and Z3 is referred to as pyramidal (Stöggl and Sperlich, 2015); whereas a TID where the relationship between training in these zones is Z1 > Z3 >Z2, with a polarization index of >2.0 arbitrary units (Treff et al, 2019), is defined as “polarized” (Seiler and Kjerland, 2006)
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