Training Load, Aerobic Capacity and Their Relationship With Wellness Status in Recreational Trail Runners.

Sérgio Matos,Joel Pereira,Thomas Rosemann,António Brandão,Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis,Filipe Manuel Clemente,Beat Knechtle

doi:10.3389/fphys.2019.01189

Sérgio Matos, Joel Pereira + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01189

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Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze the relationship between variables related to the internal and external loads of training and competition races as well as to athletes’ perceptions of well-being measured throughout the course of a 4-week mesocycle. It also aimed to analyze the intra- and inter-week variations in terms of training load and well-being. The study included the participation of 47 male recreational athletes competing in the national championships of trail running in Portugal (age: 34.85 ± 8.88 years; height: 1.77 ± 0.58 m; body mass: 65.89 ± 3.17 kg). During the 4 weeks, subjective perception of effort (RPE), training time (min), session-RPE (sRPE), distance covered (km), and perception of well-being (Hooper’s questionnaire) were monitored. Weekly RPE was greater in week 1 than in week 3 (p = 0.001; d = 0.563, small effect). Moreover, weekly sRPE was greater in week 1 than in week 2 (p = 0.001; d = 0.441, small effect). The correlations between the well-being variables and RPE that were found to be significant with small magnitudes are those between sleep and RPE (r = 0.287; p = 0.001), stress and RPE (r = 0.217; p = 0.001), fatigue and RPE (r = 0.191; p = 0.001), muscle soreness and RPE (r = 0.240; p = 0.001), and Hooper’s index and RPE (r = 0.279; p = 0.001). Among the variables of the Cooper test and the competition race load, it was verified that VO2max had a negative correlation of an average magnitude with pace (r = −0.396, p = 0.015). The findings of the study suggest that small variations in training stimulus during the period of analysis and increases in maximal oxygen uptake result in improvements in the performance of trail running athletes when considering the running speed in the race.

Highlights

Changes in training load – in the frequency, duration, and intensity of training sessions – are associated with the principle of training stimulus variability that seeks to optimize sports performance (Halson, 2014a)
rated of perceived exertion (RPE) was greater in week 1 than in week 3 (p = 0.001; d = 0.563, small effect)
Weekly sRPE was greater in week 1 than in week 2 (p = 0.001; d = 0.441, small effect)

Summary

Introduction

Changes in training load – in the frequency, duration, and intensity of training sessions – are associated with the principle of training stimulus variability that seeks to optimize sports performance (Halson, 2014a). External load is understood as Training Load in Trail Runners the physical repercussions of training performed by an athlete, encompassing indicators such as distance, duration, and race intensity (Impellizzeri et al, 2005). Internal load is associated with the biological response of the athlete to the external load imposed by training (Bourdon et al, 2017). In the training’s prescription, it is essential that the external and internal loads be appropriate and that there is a balance between them, allowing for improvements in the performance of the athlete and for the reduction of overload or underload (Bartlett et al, 2017). The correct planning of the training load through microcycles allows an approximation of the training regarding the requirements of races (Phibbs et al, 2018), causing fundamental specific adaptations in the athlete (Manzi et al, 2010)

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