The Influence of Endurance Training on the Lipid Profile, Body Mass Composition and Cardiovascular Efficiency in Middle-Aged Cross-Country Skiers

Monitoring the training of amateur long-distance cross-country skiers (XCS) can help athletes’ achieve a higher exercise capacity and protect their health. The aim of this study was to assess body composition changes and lipid profiles in middle-aged amateur long-distance XCS after four months of training, including specialized roller ski training. The results of the time-to-exhaustion (TTE) test and blood tests and changes in body composition were analyzed with basic descriptive statistics: the paired Wilcoxon test was used to compare the results (initial and final). Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (R) was used to assess the influence of various variables on maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max). The findings show that training of amateur long-distance XCS improved maximal oxygen uptake (p = 0.008) and had a positive effect on fat reduction, measured in percentages (p = 0.038) and in kilograms (p = 0.023), but did not change blood lipids or other parameters. Further research could focus on other aspects of the annual training cycle: the competition period, and women in a larger group of athletes. Training with roller skis and a cross-country skiing training machine (a specialized machine for strengthening the arms and upper body) can support health and prevent obesity, overweight, and cardiovascular disease

Effect of Seasonal Variation during Annual Cyclist Training on Somatic Function, White Blood Cells Composition, Immunological System, Selected Hormones and Their Interaction with Irisin

The aim of this study was to evaluate somatic, hormonal and immunological changes during the macrocycle of cyclists (9 well-trained men, age 25.6 ± 5.2 years and body weight 72.4 ± 7.35 kg). During the training macrocycle, four exercise control tests were carried out, and biochemical markers were measured in the laboratory. Seasonal training changes did not significantly disturb resting somatic and functional parameters, physical capacity (VO2max), body weight, the number of leukocytes and selected hormones. The secretory system of the organism did not respond significantly to the exercise stress in the training process, even with the increasing share of anaerobic processes in the subsequent periods of the macrocycle. Irisin and other parameters globally did not correlate with training volume. Irisin showed a significant correlation only with cortisol in the first period and human growth hormone in the second, and it showed a weak correlation in the third period with body mass and BMI. The lack of interactions between irisin level and other variables practically excludes its use in monitoring cyclist training. Future research would be complemented by the assessment of stress and postexercise changes in the cyclists’ macrocycle and expanding the research group to other athletes, including women

Physiological and Somatic Principal Components Determining VO2max in the Annual Training Cycle of Endurance Athletes

The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of training on the physiological variables achieved during the test effort in the macrocycle of road cyclists and their use in the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) prediction at individual training stages in the VO2max test. Nine well-trained male cyclists (age 25.6 ± 5.2 years and body weight 72.4 ± 7.35 kg) participated in the study and each phase of the macrocycle was followed by a time to exhaustion test (TTE) on the bicycle ergometer. The research showed that training loads significantly influence the maximum power (PPO), ventilation (VE) in the preparatory period (T1), time of the test (TTmax) at the start of the competition period (T2), percentage of body fat in total body weight (%FAT) and skeletal muscle mass (MMS) during the competition period (T3). Of the 16 variables taken for the analysis of the principal components (PC), the regression model determined one principal variable responsible for VO2max in the training macrocycle of cyclists, the relative value of maximum power (PPORV) and the accompanying variables in individual periods: breathing frequency (BF), delta blood lactate concentration (ΔLA), body fat (FAT) and MMS. Determining PC influencing the exercise capacity can be crucial in achieving the intended goals by athletes. Monitoring these indicators can help protect the health of professional athletes and provide guidelines in the training process, stimulate the body properly while protecting against overtraining