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DISTRIBUTION OF PRESEASON TRAINING INTENSITY IN MASTERS-AGED COMPETITIVE CROSS COUNTRY SKIERS

Abstract

DISTRIBUTION OF PRESEASON TRAINING INTENSITY IN MASTERS-AGED COMPETITIVE CROSS COUNTRY SKIERS

E.C. Ranta, T.K. Vetrone, and D.P. Heil, FACSM

Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

INTRODUCTION: The distribution of preseason training intensity amongst competitive Masters-aged cross country (XC) skiers has been largely overlooked in the research literature. To develop effective training programs for these athletes, current training practices must first be understood. Thus, the purpose of this study was to classify the weekly training practices of competitive Masters-aged XC skiers during the 2013 preseason (August-October) using telemetry-based heart rate monitors (HRM). METHODS: Fifty-seven competitive XC skiers, all 40+ years of age, volunteered to wear a HRM (5-sec recording interval) and use a training log to record all bouts of exercise over 14 consecutive days of typical preseason training. Subjects who donned the HRM for less than 70% of their logged training time were excluded from the study due to insufficient data collection. Heart rate data were downloaded to a computer and summarized by both absolute training time (T, mins) and relative time (P, %) spent within six HR zones (Z) calculated as a percentage of age-predicted maximum HR (APMHR): Z5= HR≥90% of APMHR; Z4= 80%55 yrs.) using two-sample T-tests (0.05 alpha). RESULTS: Only 41 of the 57 subjects recorded adequate data for evaluation. These 22 men (Mean±SD: 57±8 yrs.; 23.5±1.8 kg/m2) and 19 women (56±7 yrs.; 21.0±1.1 kg/m2) reported significantly less T in Z5 when compared to Z0-Z4 (Mean±SE: 35.9±5.3 vs. 76.0±12.6, 116.5±10.9, 136.6±8.0, 125.8±8.8, 88.6±8.5 mins/wk for Z0-Z4, respectively) as well as significantly less P within Z5 when compared to Z1-Z4 (6.8±1.1% vs. 19.5±1.3%, 23.5±1.0%, 22.2±1.4%, 15.9±1.4% for Z1-Z4, respectively). Additionally, the male subjects recorded significantly (P<.01) more exercise bouts per week on the training logs and HRM than the female subjects (10.4±.75 vs. 7.9±0.5 and 8.6±0.7 vs. 6.3±0.3 bouts/wk, M vs. F, respectively). There were no significant differences between age groups. CONCLUSION: The relatively even distribution of Z1-Z4 training time, with significantly less Z5 time, is contrary to the preseason polarized training regimen followed by elite athletes. For Masters skiers to achieve a more optimal training distribution, akin to competitive elite athletes, emphasis should be placed on increasing the P spent in Z1, Z2, and Z5 while simultaneously decreasing the P spent in Z3 and Z4.

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