Introduction: The maintenance of training intensity during tapering is crucial to prevent a decline in performance (McConell et al., 1993). However, an increase in training intensity in the final days of a taper may have a positive impact on performance (Thomas et al., 2009). The aim was to investigate 1,500 m performance after a 7-day taper where intensity of the final interval session was above race speed. Methods: Ten well-trained male middle-distance runners; (mean ± SD) age 22 ± 3 years, height 182.9 ± 7.0 cm, body mass 73.4 ± 6.8 kg, performed two trials, each consisting of a 7-day regular training period (control week) followed by a 7-day taper period (taper). Training during the taper was based on the practices of elite British middle-distance runners. The final interval session during the taper was performed on the fifth day at; 1,500 m race speed in the race speed trial (RS) and at 115% of race speed in the high intensity trial (HI) and consisted of 300 m intervals with 90 s recovery. Number of repetitions was individualised and dependent upon interval volume during the control period. Trials were balanced and separated by three weeks of training. In each trial, following a standardised warm up, 1,500 m performance was measured on a treadmill at baseline, after the control week and after the taper week. Participants were blind to pace and elapsed time. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA examined differences in performance time between baseline, control and taper time trials for RS and HI, with Bonferroni post-hoc analysis. Results: Performance time improved by 4% after the taper period compared to control in RS (288 s vs. 300 s, P < 0.05) and by 3% compared to baseline in RS (288 s vs. 296 s, P < 0.05). Performance after the taper in HI was not different to control (+2%, 292 s vs. 298 s) or to baseline (+1%, 292 s vs. 295 s). Performance time was not different at baseline or control between RS and HI. No difference in training load was evident between RS and HI for the control and taper periods (excluding the intensity of the final interval session during the HI taper). Discussion: The results suggest that the current tapering strategy of elite British middle-distance runners leads to a greater improvement in 1,500 m performance. HI may be less effective at improving performance due to insufficient recovery from the increase in intensity during the final session. To facilitate peak performance, a greater reduction in training volume during the taper in HI might be necessary.
© Copyright 2014 19th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Amsterdam, 2. - 5. July 2014. Veröffentlicht von VU University Amsterdam. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.