To describe training characteristics of the four 2008 Norwegian best cross country- and long distance junior runners (17,8 +/- 1 year). The subjects won the team competition in the Nordic Championship 2008. They were second in the team competition in the European Cross Country Championship 2008 (finishing no 2, 10, 16 and 20). These runners were also the best junior runners in Norway on distances from 1500m to 5000m. Their average time on 3000m was 8.19:01 +/- 4:99 sec. One of them was Junior World Champion in mountain running in 2008, and one was Norwegian Junior Champion in cross country skiing. Methods: The runners filled out questionnaires about their training habits, training history and training characteristics. They and their coaches were also interviewed. Results: During the build up period for the season 2008 they ran 130 +/- 32 km/week-1. This was done in 11 +/- 2 sessions. 80 +/- 3 % of their weekly training distance (km/week-1) was continuous running with a heart rate (HR) between 60-75 % of maximum. Two to four weekly sessions were done as interval sessions with a HR between 80 - 90 % of maximum. The total distance at these intensities in each interval session was between 8 and 14 km (26 to 47 min). During the competition season the total weekly running distance was 105 +/- 24 km/week-1. One to three sessions a week during the competition period were races or training at specific race paces. In the competition period they all ran from one to three interval sessions of the same kind as in the building up period. The training in the three last months before the European Cross Country Championship was very similar to the training in the building up period, although the volume was a little higher (140 +/- 37 km/week-1). They competed in 23,8 +/- 6,8 track and cross country competitions in 2008. Three competed in skiing during the winter. All the runners conducted general strength training. They have been trained for distance running for 4 +/- 2,2 years. Most of their training they did alone, but all preferred to do the interval sessions in a group. In 2008 three of four tested VO2max, and the average was 79,2 +/- 4,8 ml • kg-1 • min-1. All four have background from other sports. All have personal coaches. Conclusions: Among the best Norwegian junior runners and their coaches there is a consensus that a high weekly training volume based on continuous running combined with two, three or four interval sessions a week during the building up period is a success factor. The best Norwegian cross country junior runners were also the best track runners. The way these junior runners train are founded upon training principles which have been successful for outstanding Norwegian runners like Grete Waitz, Ingrid Kristiansen, Marius Bakken and Susanne Wigene.
© Copyright 2009 14th annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Oslo/Norway, June 24-27, 2009, Book of Abstracts. Published by The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. All rights reserved.