Making the Invisible, Visible: An Exploration of Track-and-Field Coaches' Perspectives of Their Planning Processes.

Purpose: The traditional understanding of how coaches plan for sporting performance is rooted in the assumption that coaches create periodized plans underpinned by physiological principles, thereby providing scientific credibility to their work. In contrast, there remains a paucity of literature exploring how coaches understand or think about their planning practices. The purpose of this study was to generate new knowledge regarding what information coaches actually consider within their planning processes and how they actually approach the task of planning.

Gait and Neuromuscular Changes Are Evident in Some Masters Club Level Runners 24-h After Interval Training Run.

Purpose: To examine the time course of recovery for gait and neuromuscular function immediately after and 24-h post interval training. In addition, this study compared the impact of different statistical approaches on detecting changes.

Methods: Twenty (10F, 10M) healthy, recreational club runners performed a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session consisting of six repetitions of 800 m.

The dose-response relationship between interval-training and VO in well-trained endurance runners: A systematic review.

Success in endurance running is primarily determined by maximal aerobic power (VO), fractional utilization, and running economy (RE). Within the literature, two training modalities have been identified to improve VO; continuous training (CT) and interval-training (IT). The efficacy of IT to improve VO in well-trained runners remains equivocal, as does whether a dose-response relationship exists between the IT training load performed and changes in VO.

Inter-limb strength asymmetry in adolescent distance runners: Test-retest reliability and relationships with performance and running economy.

The purpose of this investigation was, firstly, to quantify the test-retest reliability of strength measures in adolescent distance runners; and secondly, to explore the relationships between inter-limb strength asymmetry and performance and running economy (RE) in a similar cohort of young runners. For the reliability study, twelve ( = 6 female) post-pubertal adolescent distance runners performed an isometric quarter-squat on a dual force plate and unilateral isometric hip extension and hip abduction tests on two occasions. For the correlation study, participants ( = 31) performed the strength tests plus a submaximal incremental running assessment and a maximal running test.

Fatigue Induced Changes in Muscle Strength and Gait Following Two Different Intensity, Energy Expenditure Matched Runs.

Purpose: To investigate changes in hip and knee strength, kinematics, and running variability following two energy expenditure matched training runs; a medium intensity continuous run (MICR) and a high intensity interval training session (HIIT).

Methods: Twenty (10 Females, 10 Males) healthy master class runners were recruited. Each participant completed the HIIT consisting of six repetitions of 800 m with a 1:1 work: rest ratio.

The number of strides required for treadmill running gait analysis is unaffected by either speed or run duration.

Participation in running events has increased recently, with a concomitant increase in the rate of running related injuries (RRI). Mechanical overload is thought to be a primary cause of RRI, it is often detected using motion analysis to examine running mechanics during either overground or treadmill running. In treadmill running, no clear consensus for the number of strides required to establish stable kinematic data exists.

The Reliability of Potential Fatigue-Monitoring Measures in Elite Youth Soccer Players.

Fitzpatrick, JF, Hicks, KM, Russell, M, and Hayes, PR. The reliability of potential fatigue-monitoring measures in elite youth soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 35(12): 3448-3452, 2021-Monitoring fatigue is of vital importance to practitioners; however, logistics and concerns about reliability may impede the use of certain measures.

Quantification of aerobic determinants of performance in post-pubertal adolescent middle-distance runners.

Purpose: The use of oxygen cost ([Formula: see text]) parameters to predict endurance performance has recently been criticized. Instead, it is suggested that aerobic energy cost ([Formula: see text]) provides greater validity; however, a comparison of these quantification methods has not previously been made.

Methods: Fifty-six male (n = 34) and female (n = 22) competitive adolescent (17 ± 1 years) middle-distance runners participated in a sub-maximal and maximal incremental treadmill test.

Efficacy of depth jumps to elicit a post-activation performance enhancement in junior endurance runners.

Objectives: To determine the effect of performing depth jumps (DJ) pre-exercise on running economy (RE) and time to exhaustion (TTE) at the speed associated with maximal oxygen uptake (sV˙O) in a group of high-performing junior middle-distance runners.

Design: Randomized crossover study.

Methods: Seventeen national- and international-standard male distance runners (17.

Dose-Response Relationship Between Training Load and Changes in Aerobic Fitness in Professional Youth Soccer Players.

Purpose: To compare the dose-response relationship between traditional arbitrary speed thresholds versus an individualized approach, with changes in aerobic fitness in professional youth soccer players.

Methods: A total of 14 youth soccer players completed a 1500-m time trial to estimate maximal aerobic speed (MAS, km·h-1) at the start and at the end of a 6-week period. Training load was monitored on a daily basis during this study.

A 6-minute sub-maximal run test to predict VO max.

Maximal oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text] max) is a key indicator to assess health as well as sports performance. Currently, maximal exercise testing is the most accurate measure of maximal aerobic power, since submaximal approaches are still imprecise. In this paper, we propose a new method to predict [Formula: see text] max from a submaximal, low intensity, test in sports men and women.

Excelling at youth level in competitive track and field athletics is not a prerequisite for later success.

Enhancing our understanding of athlete development would be valuable for coaches, parents and administrators to set realistic performance expectations and to advance youth sport policy. To this end, a database of track and field performances was examined. Records of 134,313 performances by athletes aged between 12 and 35 years in sprinting, throwing, jumping and middle distance events were analysed.

Faster, higher, stronger, older: Relative age effects are most influential during the youngest age grade of track and field athletics in the United Kingdom.

The relative age effect (RAE) is a common phenomenon in youth sport, whereby children born early in the selection year are more likely to experience success and to sustain participation. There is a lack of research investigating variables which influence RAEs within track and field athletics. Such information is vital to guide policies in relation to competition structure, youth development squads and coach education.

Use of Loaded Conditioning Activities to Potentiate Middle- and Long-Distance Performance: A Narrative Review and Practical Applications.

Blagrove, RC, Howatson, G, and Hayes, PR. Use of loaded conditioning activities to potentiate middle- and long-distance performance: a narrative review and practical applications. J Strength Cond Res 33(8): 2288-2297, 2019-The warm-up is an integral component of a middle- and long-distance athlete's preperformance routine.

Effects of Strength Training on Postpubertal Adolescent Distance Runners.

Purpose: Strength training activities have consistently been shown to improve running economy (RE) and neuromuscular characteristics, such as force-producing ability and maximal speed, in adult distance runners. However, the effects on adolescent (<18 yr) runners remains elusive. This randomized control trial aimed to examine the effect of strength training on several important physiological and neuromuscular qualities associated with distance running performance.

Effects of Strength Training on the Physiological Determinants of Middle- and Long-Distance Running Performance: A Systematic Review.

Background: Middle- and long-distance running performance is constrained by several important aerobic and anaerobic parameters. The efficacy of strength training (ST) for distance runners has received considerable attention in the literature. However, to date, the results of these studies have not been fully synthesized in a review on the topic.

Strength and Conditioning Habits of Competitive Distance Runners.

Blagrove, RC, Brown, N, Howatson, G, and Hayes, PR. Strength and conditioning habits of competitive distance runners. J Strength Cond Res 34(5): 1392-1399, 2020-Targeted strength and conditioning (S&C) programs can potentially improve performance and reduce injury risk factors in competitive runners.

Test-retest reliability of physiological parameters in elite junior distance runners following allometric scaling.

This study aimed to quantify the intra-individual reliability of a number of physiological variables in a group of national and international young distance runners. Sixteen (8 male, 8 female) participants (16.7 ± 1.

Leg stiffness decreases during a run to exhaustion at the speed at VO2max.

Vertical and leg stiffness are related to running speed. In endurance running, the ability to maintain stiffness might be more important than the absolute stiffness magnitude. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in vertical and leg stiffness during an exhaustive.

The acceleration dependent validity and reliability of 10 Hz GPS.

Objectives: To examine the validity and inter-unit reliability of 10 Hz GPS for measuring instantaneous velocity during maximal accelerations.

Design: Experimental.

Methods: Two 10 Hz GPS devices secured to a sliding platform mounted on a custom built monorail were towed whilst sprinting maximally over 10 m.

Diminutions of acceleration and deceleration output during professional football match play.

Objectives: This study examined distances covered at low (1-2 ms(-2)), moderate (2-3 ms(-2)) and high (>3 ms(-2)) acceleration (L(ACC), M(ACC) and H(ACC) respectively) and deceleration (L(DEC), M(DEC), and H(DEC) respectively) during competitive football games. Temporal and transient patterns of acceleration and deceleration were also examined.

Design: Observational, repeated measures.

Effect of volume of milk consumed on the attenuation of exercise-induced muscle damage.

Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) leads to decrements in muscle performance, increases in intramuscular proteins and delayed-onset of muscle soreness (DOMS). Previous research demonstrated that one litre of milk-based protein-carbohydrate (CHO) consumed immediately following muscle damaging exercise can limit changes in markers of EIMD possibly due to attenuating protein degradation and/or increasing protein synthesis. If the attenuation of EIMD is derived from changes in protein metabolism then it can be hypothesised that consuming a smaller volume of CHO and protein will elicit similar effects.