Impact of training intensity distribution on performance in endurance athletes

Impact of training intensity distribution on performance in en-durance athletes. J. Strength Cond. Res. 21(3):943–949. 2007.— The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of 2 training programs differing in the relative contribution of training vol-ume, clearly below vs. within the lactate threshold/maximal lac-tate steady state region on performance in endurance runners. Twelve subelite endurance runners (who are specialists in track events, mostly the 5,000-m race usually held during spring-sum-mer months and who also participate in cross-country races [9– 12 km] during fall and winter months) were randomly assigned to a training program emphasizing low-intensity (subthreshold) (Z1) or moderately high-intensity (between thresholds) (Z2) training intensities. At the start of the study, the subjects per-formed a maximal exercise test to determine ventilatory (VT) and respiratory compensation thresholds (RCT), which allowe