Affiliations: [a] Department of Corporal Expression, University of Jaen, Jaen, Spain | [b] Department of Sport and Physical Education, University of Granada, Granada, Spain | [c] Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Felipe García-Pinillos. Faculty of Education Sciences, Department of Didactics of Corporal Expression, University of Jaén, Campus de las Lagunillas s/n, 23071, Jaén, Spain. Tel.: +34 660062066, +34 953 212710; E-mail:fegarpi@gmail.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND:
Since a growing body of evidence points to mean training intensity over a
season as a key factor to performance improvements, and there is wide
evidence of the benefits of high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) for
endurance athletes, coaches need further information about the acute impact
of typical HIIT workouts on endurance runners. OBJECTIVE:
To compare the physiological strain and muscular performance parameters of
endurance runners during two HIIT workouts by determining whether a typical
HIIT for endurance runners (10 × 400 m) leads to a similar impact as a
HIIT protocol (40 × 100 m) that increases the average training pace
despite maintaining the same training volume. METHODS:
Eighteen endurance runners performed 2 HIITs. Metabolic (blood lactate
[BLa], blood ammonia [BAmm]), neuromuscular (countermovement jump [CMJ],
handgrip strength test [HS]), and physiological responses were monitored
during both protocols. RESULTS:
No significant differences between HIITs were found for BLa_1 min
post-test, BAmm, HS and HRpeak. Significant differences were found in
fatigue-induced changes in CMJ performance (-0.36 cm in 40 × 100
m; +1.48 cm in 10 × 400 m), and in average pace (P< 0.001) which was
faster during the 40 × 100 m. CONCLUSIONS:
Despite similar physiological, metabolic, and HS responses, the 40 × 100 m protocol allowed runners to train at a higher intensity, which might
have important effects on the training prescription for endurance runners.
