Distribution of Training Volume and Intensity of Elite Male and Female Track and Marathon Runners

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare training volume and the distribution of training intensity of six of the best long-distance runners in Norway from the last decade.Three international-level long-distance runners (two males and one female) and three marathon runners (one male and two females) were included. The runners' training diaries for one of the seasons they competed in an international championship were analysed. The reported running volume (km/week) was used to estimate the distribution of training at the prescribed intensity zones in representative weeks in the preparation period and in the competition season.During the preparation period (November -February) the marathon runners ran an average of 186.6 ± 25.7 km/week and the track runners 161 ± 11 km/week. For all runners, 80 ± 5% of the weekly training distance (km/week) in this period was continuous running with a heart rate (HR) between 65-82% of maximum. The remaining 20% of total training volume (km/week) was performed at intensities near and above the anaerobic threshold (82-92% of HRmax). This was done in three to five weekly interval sessions or continuous running sessions. All athletes ran 11 -13 sessions per week. The training volume (km/week) in the pre-competition period and the competition season did not differ much from the volume in the preparation period. The track runners increased the amount of highintensity training at specific race pace in the pre-competition period (March and April), and in the track competition season (May -September).

The Effect of 40-m Repeated Sprint Training on Maximum Sprinting Speed, Repeated Sprint Speed Endurance, Vertical Jump, and Aerobic Capacity in Young Elite Male Soccer Players

“…Repeated sprinting over a longer distance (40m) can be a new and unaccustomed stimulant for soccer players, which again can result in muscular and neural responses (21, 31). Improvement in running performances in 60m, 100m and 200m was noticed in track and field training (phosphate-training) (10,39). The results in this study indicate that the RSA seems to be as trainable as the ability to develop maximum speed.…”

A Case Study of the Training of Nine Times New York Marathon Winner Grete Waitz

“…A running volume of 120-180 km · week -1 , depending on the ratio of training intensity distribution, is referred to in the research literature as the average training limit for optimizing performance in long-distance running [11][12][13]16 . There appears to be two training paths (models) to follow if pursuing an international long-distance running career.…”

“…A review of the research literature shows that most successful long distance runners have workloads of 150-260 (km · week -1 ), during a normal season 3,[11][12][13][14] . High training volume is most often a result of many training units per week.…”

“…Grete, on the other hand, typically ran short, high-intensity intervals once a week. The research literature and training practices of the most successful long-distance runners of the last four decades indicate that performance development in long-distance running for women is associated with both a high training volume (km · week -1 ) at low intensities as performed by Ingrid Kristiansen 12 , Susanne Wigene 13 and Tegla Lourope 16 and a relatively low-moderate training volume (km · week -1 ) at higher intensities as performed by Grete Waitz, Sonia O'Sullivan 12 and the majority of the Kenyan female long-distance runners 16 . According to Billat et al 16 .…”

Do Elite Endurance Athletes Report Their Training Accurately?

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] The key method for quantifying training characteristics is self-reported (SR) training in diaries. 5,[8][9][10][11][12][13] Such data may be used to examine the relationship between training dose and training adaptation alongside performance, and serves as a basis for mechanistic hypothesis generation. This, however, requires that SR diaries are valid with regard to activity form, volume, intensity distribution and frequency of training.…”