The effects of cross-country training on male high school runners

The purpose of this study is to determine physiological adaptations in trained male high-school runners before and after high-intensity training associated with a crosscountry season. Testing occurred on five separate occasions at the Human Performance Laboratory. After the first familiarization session, the subjects performed a treadmill graded exercise test in which maximal oxygen consumption and ventilatory threshold was measured. Submaximal oxygen consumption and blood lactate concentration at three running speeds (10, 12, and 14 km'hf 1 at 0% grade) was determined in a second testing session. After the cross-country season (13 weeks) the subjects returned to the laboratory and performed the same graded exercise and submaximal exercise tests. VO2max significantly increased, VT tended to increased, however, not significant. There were no changes in submaximal economy or lactate except for significant decline in blood lactate at 14 km hf' . Although these variables are associated with endurance performance in adults, there is very little information available regarding the effects of endurance training on these variables in the adolescent age group. Knowing the extent of the adaptations will help to optimize the training programs for age group.School of Physical EducationThesis (M.S.