1. The Evolvement of Session Design From Junior Age to Senior Peak Performance in World-Class Cross-Country Skiers.
- Author
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Walther, Jacob, Haugen, Thomas, Solli, Guro Strøm, Tønnessen, Espen, and Sandbakk, Øyvind
- Subjects
SELF-evaluation ,EXERCISE physiology ,ENDURANCE sports ,SEX distribution ,HIGH-intensity interval training ,AGE distribution ,EXERCISE intensity ,PHYSICAL training & conditioning ,RETROSPECTIVE studies ,CROSS-country skiing ,MEDICAL records ,ACQUISITION of data ,ATHLETIC ability ,TIME - Abstract
Purpose: To compare designs of training sessions applied by world-class cross-country skiers during their most successful junior and senior season. Methods: Retrospective analysis of self-reported training characteristics (ie, training form, intensity, and exercise mode) among 8 male and 7 female world-class cross-country skiers was conducted. Results: Total number of sessions (441 [71] vs 519 [34], P <.001, large effect) and mean duration (1.5 [0.1] h vs 1.7 [0.1] h, P <.001, moderate effect) increased from junior to senior age. More double-session days were performed at senior age (124 [50] vs 197 [29] d, P <.001, large). The number (310 [64] vs 393 [64], P <.001, large effect) and duration (1.3 [0.1] h vs 1.5 [0.1] h, P <.001, moderate effect) of low-intensity training sessions increased from junior to senior age. Regarding intensive training, most emphasis was put on high-intensity training sessions lasting 20 to 39 minutes with <5-minute intervals at junior age, while 40 to 59 minutes of moderate-intensity training with 5- to 9-minute intervals was predominant at senior age. More MIXED (combined moderate- and high-intensity) sessions (9 [7] vs 14 [7], P =.023, moderate effect) and longer races (0.5 [0.1] h vs 0.6 [0.1] h, P = 0.29, moderate effect) compensated for fewer high-intensity training sessions at senior age (36 [17] vs 25 [10], P =.027, moderate effect). Duration of strength-training sessions increased significantly (0.6 [0.1] vs 0.8 [0.2] h, P = 0.30, moderate effect), while other training forms remained unchanged. Conclusions: World-class cross-country skiers increased their training volume from junior to senior age primarily by more and longer low-intensity training sessions and more often training twice per day. Concurrently, the most frequent intensive sessions were modified from high- to moderate-intensity training, lasted longer, and contained longer intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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