Periods of reduced training, or training cessation, naturally lead to decreased fitness. The reduction in aerobic fitness that occurs will be inversely related to the aerobic training load accumulated before the period of reduced training. Using more technical jargon, the greater the chronic training load prior to training cessation, the lower the loss in fitness (1). Interestingly, however, a reduction in training load over 2 weeks is often beneficial when it allows chronic fatigue to dissipate, and freshness to return (2). This phenomenon is used by all coaches and trainers to maximize the strategy known as tapering (1). Beyond 2 weeks of lowered activity, a decrease in aerobic-related performance is likely to occur (3, 4), which suggests that specific training should be programmed either: 1) during those initial weeks or 2) at least after those first two weeks to avoid substantial decrease in fitness and performance.
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