Physiological and Performance Responses to a 6-Day Taper in Middle-Distance Runners: Influence of Training Frequency

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the influence of training frequency on performance and some physiological responses during a 6-day taper. After 18 weeks of training, 9 male middle-distance runners were assigned to a high frequency taper (HFT, n = 5) or a moderate frequency taper (MFT, n = 4), consisting of training daily or resting every third day of the taper. Taper consisted of an 80 % nonlinear progressive reduction in high intensity interval training. Blood samples were obtained, and 800m performance and peak blood lactate ([La]_peak) measured before and after taper. Performance improved significantly after HFT (121.8 ± 4.7 vs 124.2 ± 4.9 s, p < 0.05), but not after MFT (126.6 ± 2.8 vs 127.1 ± 2.1 s). Neutrophils (2.89 ± 0.68 vs 2.56 ± 0.61 10³ × mm^-3), granulocytes (3.08 ± 0.70 vs 2.77 ± 0.66 10³ × mm^-3), haptoglobin (79.7 ± 47.9 vs 60.7 ± 33.6 mg × dl^-1), total testosterone (7.39 ± 1.67 vs 5.52 ± 0.88 µg × l^-1) and [La]_peak (15.5 ± 1.5 vs 14.4 ± 2.0 mmol × l^-1) significantly increased with taper. [La]_peak correlated with performance time before taper (r = -0.76, p < 0.05), and change in [La]_peak with change in serum cortisol (r = -0.75, p < 0.05) and total testosterone:cortisol ratio (r = 0.82, p < 0.01). In conclusion, training daily during a 6-day taper brought about significant performance gains, whereas resting every third day did not. High [La]_peak and a hormonal milieu propitious to anabolic processes seemed to be necessary for optimum performance.

Key words

Granulocytes - haptoglobin - testosterone - cortisol - lactate

References

• 1 Berger B G, Motl R W, Butki B D, Martin D T, Wilkinson J G. Mood and cycling performance in response to three weeks of high-intensity, short-duration overtraining, and a two-week taper.  The Sport Psychologist. 1999;  13 444-457
• 2 Bonifazi M, Sardella F, Lupo C. Preparatory versus main competitions: differences in performances, lactate responses and pre-competition plasma cortisol concentrations in elite male swimmers.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2000;  82 368-373
• 3 Busso T, Häkkinen K, Pakarinen A, Kauhanen H, Komi P V, Lacour J R. Hormonal adaptations and modelled responses in elite weight lifters during 6 weeks of training.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1992;  64 381-386
• 4 Casoni I, Borsetto C, Cavicchi A, Martinelli S, Conconi F. Reduced hemoglobin concentration and red cell hemoglobinization in Italian marathon and ultramarathon runners.  Int J Sports Med. 1985;  6 176-179
• 5 Chatard J C, Paulin M, Lacour J R. Postcompetition blood lactate measurements and swimming performance: illustrated by data from a 400-m Olympic record holder.  In: Swimming Science V. Champaign, IL; Human Kinetics 1988: 311-316
• 6 Cumming D C, Wall S R. Non-sex hormone-binding globulin-bound testosterone as a marker for hyperandrogenism.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1985;  61 873-876
• 7 Dufaux B, Hoederath A, Streitberger I, Hollmann W, Assmann G. Serum ferritin, tranferrin, haptoglobin, and iron in middle- and long-distance runners, elite rowers, and professional racing cyclists.  Int J Sports Med. 1981;  2 43-46
• 8 Flynn M G, Pizza F X, Boone J B Jr, Andres F F, Michaud T A, Rodriguez-Zayas J R. Indices of training stress during competitive running and swimming seasons.  Int J Sports Med. 1994;  15 21-26
• 9 Hooper S L, Mackinnon L T, Howard A. Physiological and psychometric variables for monitoring recovery during tapering for major competition.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 1205-1210
• 10 Houmard J A. Impact of reduced training on performance in endurance athletes.  Sports Med. 1991;  12 380-393
• 11 Houmard J A, Johns R A. Effects of taper on swim performance. Practical implications.  Sports Med. 1994;  14 224-232
• 12 Houmard J A, Costill D L, Mitchell J B, Park S H, Fink W J, Burns J M. Testosterone, cortisol, and creatine kinase levels in male distance runners during reduced training.  Int J Sports Med. 1990;  11 41-45
• 13 Houmard J A, Costill D L, Mitchell J B, Park S H, Hickner R C, Roemmich J N. Reduced training maintains performance in distance runners.  Int J Sports Med. 1990;  11 46-52
• 14 Houmard J A, Scott B K, Justice C L, Chenier T C. The effects of taper on performance in distance runners.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994;  26 624-631
• 15 Lacour J R, Bouvat E, Barthélémy J C. Post-competition blood lactate concentrations as indicators of anaerobic energy expenditure during 400-m and 800-m races.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1990;  61 172-176
• 16 Manni A, Partridge W M, Cefalu M. Bioavailability of albumin-bound testosterone.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1985;  61 705-710
• 17 Mujika I. The influence of the training characteristics and tapering on the adaptation in highly trained individuals: a review.  Int J Sports Med. 1998;  19 439-446
• 18 Mujika I, Chatard J C, Busso T, Geyssant A, Barale F, Lacoste L. Effects of training on performance in competitive swimming.  Can J Appl Physiol. 1995;  20 395-406
• 19 Mujika I, Chatard J C, Padilla S, Guezennec C Y, Geyssant A. Hormonal responses to training and its tapering off in competitive swimmers: relationships with performance.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1996;  74 361-366
• 20 Mujika I, Goya A, Padilla S, Grijalba A, Gorostiaga E, Ibáñez J. Physiological responses to a 6-day taper in middle-distance runners: influence of training intensity and volume.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;  32 511-517
• 21 Neary J P, Martin T P, Reid D C, Burnham R, Quinney H A. The effects of a reduced exercise duration taper programme on performance and muscle enzymes of endurance cyclists.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1992;  65 30-36
• 22 Neufer P D. The effect of detraining and reduced training on the physiological adaptations to aerobic exercise training.  Sports Med. 1989;  8 302-321
• 23 Pizza F X, Flynn M G, Boone J B, Rodriguez-Zayas J R, Andres F F. Serum haptoglobin and ferritin during a competitive running and swimming season.  Int J Sports Med. 1997;  18 233-237
• 24 Raglin J S, Koceja D M, Stager J M, Harms C A. Mood, neuromuscular function, and performance during training in female swimmers.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996;  28 372-377
• 25 Selby G B, Eichner E R. Endurance swimming, intravascular hemolysis, anemia, and iron depletion.  Am J Med. 1986;  81 791-794
• 26 Shepley B, MacDougall J D, Cipriano N, Sutton J R, Tarnopolsky M A, Coates G. Physiological effects of tapering in highly trained athletes.  J Appl Physiol. 1992;  72 706-711
• 27 Zarkadas P C, Carter J B, Banister E W. Modelling the effect of taper on performance, maximal oxygen uptake, and the anaerobic threshold in endurance triathletes.  Adv Exp Med Biol. 1995;  393 179-186