PhD, Associate Professor I.V. Mosin¹
PhD, Associate Professor M.N. Esaulov¹
I.N. Mosina^1
1National Research Nuclear University under Moscow Engineering Physics Institute, Moscow

Keywords: middle altitudes, junior athletes, blood lactate, HR, optimal training load.

Introduction. Athletic training in mountainous areas is considered an efficient and proven method of training of elite middle-distance runners of mature age (F.P. Suslov, 1999). However, with respect to junior athletes, no studies have been conducted yet on the volumes of cross-country running, running on segments, speed-strength and jump training in the middle-altitude conditions. It was assumed that junior athletes should be trained within the adult training system, with the only exception for the volume and intensity of training loads that were to be limited by 10-15% of the adult program. This often led to overtraining of their cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems, due to which junior athletes were permanently disabled and had to skip the entire competitive season. We believe that junior runners’ adaptation mechanisms should be developed in the middle-altitude conditions, with due regard to the individual characteristics of their physical development. A useful adjunct, in our opinion, is portable tools allowing monitoring the current status of junior runners. These include individual lactometers that enable to determine the level of training loads and heart rate monitors.

Objective of the study was substantiation of optimization of training loads in the middle-altitude training of runners with the lactate and heart rate (HR) tests.

Methods and structure of the study. The model testing experiment was completed at the sport base in Kislovodsk located 800-850m above the sea level, during the training camp. To maintain the experimental integrity, the athletic training was conducted on the so-called "Bashkir circle" located 937m above the sea level; it is around 1km long, flat, with no altitude differences. The athletes were tested prior to and in days 4-6-8-10-12-14 of the training cycle.

The trainings were designed to include 8х500m low-intensity races (LIR) with 500m breaks; plus 3х200m LIR with 200m breaks; 5х1000m LIR with 1000m breaks; 3х400m LIR with 400m breaks; 3х2000m LIR with 1000 breaks; and 3х200m uphill jumps. The training days were alternated by rehabilitative cross-country races taking 30/ 50min in the morning/ evening, respectively. Sampled for the experiment were the 18-19 year-old Class I and CMS skiers (n=12, including 7 males and 5 females), with the training process intensity customized to the individual fitness and training needs of the athletes. The sample was tested twice: for lactate level and HR (see Table 1).

Table 1. Results of testing of middle-distance runners in middle-altitudes

We used an individual lactometer "Accutrend lactate" (Germany) and heart rate monitor "Polar". On the 4^th day of training – 8x500/500+3x200/200, the lactate level and HR in the examined athletes were as follows: in the females - 11.2-11.8 mmol and 178-183 bpm, respectively; in the males - 9.3-10.1 mmol and 172-181 bpm, respectively.

On the 6^th day of testing - 5x1000/1000 + 3x400/400, the lactate level and HR in the female group equaled 13.2-13.6 mmol and 185-190 bpm, respectively; in the male group – 11.6-12.3 mmol and 181-186 bpm, respectively.

On the 8^th day - 3x2000/1000+3x200 uphill jumps, the lactate level and HR in the junior female athletes were equal to 10.8-11.3 mmol and 175-183 bpm, respectively; in the junior male athletes – 9.4-9.9 mmol and 171-177 bpm, respectively.

On the 10^th day, the subjects were to perform the load of the 4-day. Here, we found the lactate level in the females to equal 7.9-8.3 mmol and their HR – to 175-180 bpm; in the males - 6.8-7.4 mmol and 171-178 bpm, respectively.

The training load of the 12^th day corresponded to that of the 6^th day. The lactate level and HR in the junior female athletes were 9.9-10.6 mmol and 180-186 bpm, respectively; in the junior male athletes – 10.3-10.7 mmol and 170-177 bpm, respectively.

The task of the 14^th day was to perform the load of the 8^th day. In the junior female athletes, the lactate level was 8.3-8.7 mmol and HR - 177-183 bpm; in the junior male athletes, the lactate level was 6.4-6.8 mmol and HR - 170-177 bpm.

Adaptation of the junior athletes to the middle-altitude conditions went in an uneven wavelike manner. During the first training week, the lactate level and HR were much higher than those recommended in the scientific and methodological literature (by 4.5 mmol and 15 bpm, respectively) (F.P. Suslov). During the second training week, we observed some significant changes in the lactate level compared with the recommended one, and yet it was higher (2.5 mmol), and the athletes’ HR varied slightly and remained rather high (up to 10 bpm). In the middle-altitude conditions, marked by the urgent adaptation to oxygen deficiency, HR in junior athletes serves as a natural indicator of their adaptation to the conditions of low oxygen level and cannot be an objective indicator of their adaptation. We assume that the only objective forms of monitoring of the athletes’ condition are: blood lactate, biochemistry of blood (which is the goal of our further research). Blood lactate is a physiological form of junior athletes’ bodily adaptation response to training loads in the middle altitudes. It is an objective indicator of adaptation to a particular workload.

Conclusions. The study data and analysis show that the middle-altitude training process shall be managed to keep the lactate rates naturally high in the first training days followed by their moderate reduction in the second and third weeks by 2-3 mmol. Coaches are recommended to design and manage the training process versus the individual physical progress tests to secure a good competitive progress.

References

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Corresponding author: mosin59@mail.ru

Abstract

The study analyzes benefits of the middle-altitude training process management model for middle-distance runners with lactate tests. The model testing experiment was completed at sport base in Kislovodsk located 800-850m above the sea level, with the athletes tested prior to and in days 4-6-8-10-12-14 of the training cycle. The trainings were designed to include 8х500m low-intensity races (LIR) with 500m breaks; plus 3х200m LIR with 200m breaks; 5х1000m LIR with 1000m breaks; 3х400m LIR with 400m breaks; 3х2000m LIR with 1000 breaks; and 3х200m uphill jumps. The training days were alternated by rehabilitative cross-country races taking 30/ 50min in the morning/ evening, respectively. Sampled for the experiment were the 18-19 years old Class I and CMS skiers (n=12, including 7 males and 5 females), with the training process intensity customized to the individual fitness and training needs of the athletes. The sample was tested for lactate level and HR.

The study data and analysis show that the middle-altitude training process shall be managed to keep the lactate rates naturally high in the first training days followed by their modest reduction in the second and third weeks by 2-3 mmol. Coaches are recommended to design and manage the training process versus the individual physical progress tests to secure a good competitive progress.