The Training Characteristics of World-Class Distance Runners: An Integration of Scientific Literature and Results-Proven Practice

In this review we integrate the scientifc literature and results-proven practice and outline a novel framework for understanding the training and development of elite long-distance performance. Herein, we describe how fundamental training characteristics and well-known training principles are applied. World-leading track runners (i.e., 5000 and 10,000 m) and marathon specialists participate in 9±3 and 6±2 (mean±SD) annual competitions, respectively. The weekly running distance in the mid-preparation period is in the range 160–220 km for marathoners and 130–190 km for track runners. These diferences are mainly explained by more running kilometers on each session for marathon runners. Both groups perform 11–14 sessions per week, and ≥80% of the total running volume is performed at low intensity throughout the training year. The training intensity distribution vary across mesocycles and difer between marathon and track runners, but common for both groups is that volume of race-pace running increases as the main competition approaches. The tapering process starts 7–10 days prior to the main competition. While the African runners live and train at high altitude (2000–2500 m above sea level) most of the year, most lowland athletes apply relatively long altitude camps during the preparation period. Overall, this review ofers unique insights into the training characteristics of world-class distance runners by integrating scientifc literature and results-proven practice, providing a point of departure for future studies related to the training and development in the Olympic long-distance events.publishedVersio

Training und Coaching von weiblichen vs. männlichen Athleten auf ihrem Weg zu Gold? Einschätzungen erfolgreicher Trainer von Eliteathleten

This scientific short report investigated how successful male coaches perceive gender differences in training characteristics and coaching practice among medal-winning endurance athletes. Ten male Norwegian coaches with a track record of coaching both female and male endurance world-class athletes (total of 269 Olympic, World and European Championship medals) participated in semi-structured interviews. Inductive thematic analysis revealed that all coaches mainly adjusted their key training and coaching principles to the individual athlete, rather than gender. A coach-driven and athlete-centered individualization process was essential to create trust, mutual understanding, and optimal training content. Potential gender/sex differences were perceived in four main themes: sport-specific competition demands, physiological, psychological and interpersonal factors (e.g., gender of the coach). In this context, all coaches described how training and coaching of female athletes differs from that of men, thus considering male athletes as the reference group and male physiology and psychology as the norm. Furthermore, societal factors such as a male-dominant sports culture and underlying gender stereotypes were suggested as amplifiers of gender differences. Accordingly, our report highlights the need for female perspectives in elite sports and invites further in-depth investigations of the identified gender/sex differences within the respective disciplines of training science, physiology, psychology and sociology.publishedVersio

The training and development of elite sprint performance: an integration of scientific and best practice literature

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Training und Coaching von weiblichen vs. männlichen Athleten auf ihrem Weg zu Gold? Einschätzungen erfolgreicher Trainer von Eliteathleten

This scientific short report investigated how successful male coaches perceive gender differences in training characteristics and coaching practice among medal-winning endurance athletes. Ten male Norwegian coaches with a track record of coaching both female and male endurance world-class athletes (total of 269 Olympic, World and European Championship medals) participated in semi-structured interviews. Inductive thematic analysis revealed that all coaches mainly adjusted their key training and coaching principles to the individual athlete, rather than gender. A coach-driven and athlete-centered individualization process was essential to create trust, mutual understanding, and optimal training content. Potential gender/sex differences were perceived in four main themes: sport-specific competition demands, physiological, psychological and interpersonal factors (e.g., gender of the coach). In this context, all coaches described how training and coaching of female athletes differs from that of men, thus considering male athletes as the reference group and male physiology and psychology as the norm. Furthermore, societal factors such as a male-dominant sports culture and underlying gender stereotypes were suggested as amplifiers of gender differences. Accordingly, our report highlights the need for female perspectives in elite sports and invites further in-depth investigations of the identified gender/sex differences within the respective disciplines of training science, physiology, psychology and sociology

Maximal aerobic power characteristics of male professional soccer players, 1989-2012

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to quantify maximal aerobic power (VO2max) in soccer as a function of performance level, position, age, and time of season. In addition, the authors examined the evolution Of VO2max among professional players over a 23-y period. Methods: 1545 male soccer players (22 +/- 4 y, 76 +/- 8 kg, 181 +/- 6 cm) were tested for VO2max at the Norwegian Olympic Training Center between 1989 and 2012. Results: No differences in VO2max were observed among national-team players, 1st- and 2nd-division players, and juniors. Midfielders had higher VO2max than defenders; forwards, and goalkeepers (P < .05). Players <18 y of age had similar to 3% higher VO2max than 23- to 26-y-old players (P = .016). The players had 1.6% and 2.1% lower VO2max during off-season than preseason (P = .046) and in season (P = .021), respectively. Relative to body mass, VO2max among the professional players in this study has not improved over time. Professional players tested during 2006-2012 actually had 3.2% lower VO2max than those tested from 2000 to 2006 (P = .001). Conclusions: This study provides effect-magnitude estimates for the influence of performance level, player position, age, and season time on VO2max in men's elite soccer. The findings from a robust data set indicate that VO2max values similar to 62-64 mL . kg(-1) . min(-1) fulfill the demands for aerobic capacity in men's professional soccer and that VO2max is not a clearly distinguishing variable separating players of different standards

Crossing the Golden Training Divide: The Science and Practice of Training World‑Class 800‑ and 1500‑m Runners

Despite an increasing amount of research devoted to middle-distance training (herein the 800 and 1500 m events), information regarding the training methodologies of world-class runners is limited. Therefore, the objective of this review was to integrate scientific and best practice literature and outline a novel framework for understanding the training and development of elite middle-distance performance. Herein, we describe how well-known training principles and fundamental training characteristics are applied by world-leading middle-distance coaches and athletes to meet the physiological and neuromuscular demands of 800 and 1500 m. Large diversities in physiological profiles and training emerge among middle-distance runners, justifying a categorization into types across a continuum (400–800 m types, 800 m specialists, 800–1500 m types, 1500 m specialists and 1500–5000 m types). Larger running volumes (120–170 vs. 50–120 km·week−1 during the preparation period) and higher aerobic/anaerobic training distribution (90/10 vs. 60/40% of the annual running sessions below vs. at or above anaerobic threshold) distinguish 1500- and 800-m runners. Lactate tolerance and lactate production training are regularly included interval sessions by middle-distance runners, particularly among 800-m athletes. In addition, 800-m runners perform more strength, power and plyometric training than 1500-m runners. Although the literature is biased towards men and “long-distance thinking,” this review provides a point of departure for scientists and practitioners to further explore and quantify the training and development of elite 800- and 1500-m running performance and serves as a position statement for outlining current state-of-the-art middle-distance training recommendations.publishedVersio

En analyse av merkeassosiasjoner generert fra ”Bli attraktiv” av Høyskolen Kristiania

ormålet med denne oppgaven er å synliggjøre de merkeassosiasjonene som genereres av reklamefilmen “Bli attraktiv” av Høyskolen Kristiania, og om Høyskolen lykkes i å kommunisere budskapet. For å gjøre dette har vi tatt i bruk den strategiske metodikken, Brand Concept Mapping som avdekker og undersøker assosiasjoner tilknyttet en merkevare. Dette har foregått i form av kvalitative intervjuer med ti informanter, fordelt på to utvalgsgrupper. Som nåværende studenter på Høyskolen Kristiania, er vi utvalgsgruppen med erfaringsbasert kunnskap. Vi representerer identiteten som blir dramatisert, og uttrykksformen i “Bli attraktiv” bør gjenspeile vår faktiske oppfatning av Høyskolen. Potensielle studenter er den faktiske kundemålgruppen og det er deres assosiasjoner som skaper et bilde av Høyskolen Kristiania som merkevare. Vi har fulgt analysen til John mfl (2006) som utviklet metoden, og tatt videre utgangspunkt i Samuelsen, Peretz og Olsen (2016) som har en forenklet referanse. Vi har hentet inspirasjon fra våre medstudenter, veileder og vår egen interesse. I lys av vår problemstilling fant vi ut av at 3. klasse studentene genererte totalt 52 assosiasjoner med flere positive betydninger, og potensielle studentene genererte totalt 57 assosiasjoner med færre positive betydninger. Disse blir presentert i form av to konsensuskart som er utviklet på bakgrunn av de sterkeste kjerneassosiasjonene med flest koblinger. Vi argumenterer for at 3. klasse studentene oppfatter budskapet til “Bli attraktiv” fordi de har erfaringsbasert kunnskap om Høyskolen Kristiania. Det betyr denne gruppen genererte flere positive kjerneassosiasjoner som er sammenfallende med budskapet. Vi konkluderte også med negative assosiasjoner, som har oppstått på grunn av negative følelsesresponser som en effekt av reklamens uttrykksform og dramatisering. Potensielle studenter sine assosiasjoner er ikke helt sammenfallende med budskapet. De genererer assosiasjoner som er representative, men de er som oftest kun svakt tilkoblet “Bli attraktiv”. De viste en større interesse for budskapet, men Høyskolen Kristiania lykkes ikke med kommunikasjonen. Det kommer frem at de oppfatter uttrykksformen og dramatiseringen som villedende i likhet med 3. klasse studentene

Anaerobic performance testing of professional soccer players 1995-2010

Published version of an article from the journal: International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. Also available from Human Kinetics:http://journals.humankinetics.com/ijspp-back-issues/ijspp-volume-8-issue-2-march/anaerobic-performance-testing-of-professional-soccer-players-1995ndash2010Purpose: To compare sprint and countermovement-jump (CMJ) performance among competitive soccer players as a function of performance level, field position, and age. In addition, the authors wanted to quantify the evolution of these physical characteristics among professional players over a 15-y period. Methods: 939 athletes (22.1 +/- 4.3 y), including national-team players, tested 40-m sprint with electronic timing and CMJ on a force platform at the Norwegian Olympic Training Center between 1995 and 2010. Results: National-team and 1st-division players were faster (P<.05) than 2nd-division (1.0-1.4%), 3rd- to 5th-division (3.0-3.8%), junior national-team (1.7-2.2%), and junior players (2.8-3.7%). Forwards were faster than defenders (1.4%), midfielders (2.5%), and goalkeepers (3.2%) over 0-20 m (P<.001). Midfielders jumped similar to 2.0 cm lower than the other playing positions (P<.05). Sprinting velocity peaked in the age range 20-28 y and declined significantly thereafter (P<.05). Players from 2006-2010 had 1-2% faster 0-20 m and peak velocity than players from the 1995-1999 and 2000-2005 epochs, whereas no differences in CMJ performance were observed. Conclusions: This study provides effect-magnitude estimates for the influence of performance level, position, and age on sprint and CMJ performance in soccer. While CMJ performance has remained stable over the time, there has been a small but positive development in sprinting velocity among professional players

Effect of an intense period of competition on race performance and self-reported illness in elite cross-country skiers.

Aim: To determine whether participating in a cross-country skiing stage race (TDS) affects subsequent illness incidence, training and race performance. Methods: Self-reported training and illness data from 44 male and female elite cross-country skiers were included. In total, 125 years’ of data was collected (2-3 seasons per athlete). Illness incidence, training load and performance in international competitions were calculated for athletes who did and did not participate in TDS. Results: 48% of athletes reported becoming ill during or in the days immediately after taking part in TDS, vs. 16% of athletes who did not participate. In both groups, illness incidence was somewhat lower for female athletes. For male athletes, race performance was significantly worse for 6 weeks following TDS vs. 6 weeks before TDS. Furthermore, while female athletes who participated in TDS performed relatively better than controls in Olympics/World Championships, male athletes who participated in TDS typically performed worse in subsequent major championships. Conclusion: Participating in TDS appears to result in ~3-fold increase in risk of illness in this period. Male athletes appear more prone to illness and also see a drop in race performance following TDS, possibly linked to differences in training load before and after the event

From juniors to seniors: changes in training characteristics and aerobic power in 17 world-class cross-country skiers

Purpose: To compare training characteristics and aerobic power (VO2max) between the most successful junior and senior seasons of world-class cross-country (XC) skiers and to identify differences between sexes and among sprint and distance skiers. Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on self-reported training and VO2max tests of ten male and seven female world-class XC-skiers, collectively holding 38 Olympic medals. Training was categorized by form (endurance, strength, speed, other) and mode (specific, unspecific) and was divided into low- (LIT), moderate- (MIT), and high-intensity training (HIT). Results: Total training increased by 203 ± 130 h (35% ± 31%, p < .001, large effect) and 78 ± 69 sessions (21% ± 24%, p < .001, very large effect). Junior training volume (658 ± 107 h) did not correlate with senior volume (861 ± 74 h) but correlated negatively with changes in volume (r = −.822, p < .001). No sex differences were observed related to total volume, but distance skiers increased their total volume more than sprint skiers (p = .037, large effect). Endurance training increased by 197 ± 117 h (p < .001; large effect) tied to increased low-intensity training (186 ± 115 h, p < .001; large effect) and moderate-intensity training (13 ± 7 h, p < .001; large effect). Training intensity distribution (% LIT/MIT/HIT) was 91/3/6 in junior and 92/4/4 in senior season. Women demonstrated greater increase of unspecific modes (100 ± 58 vs. 37 ± 44 h, p = .022; large effect) and strength training (25 ± 23 vs. −3 ± 17 h, p = .010, large effect). Men improved absolute (8% ± 5%; p = .009; large effect) and relative VO2max (6% ± 4%; p = .016; large effect) from junior to senior, while women only increased relative VO2max (7% ± 5%, p = .012; large effect). Conclusion: This study provides novel information regarding changes in training characteristics and aerobic power from junior to senior age in world-class XC-skiers. Overall, the enhanced training volume during this transition was primarily driven by increased LIT and MIT and the exceptionally high relative VO2max at junior age further increased in both sexes.publishedVersio