Training prescription for aerobic adaptation and endurance performance

Question 1

Pros and Cons of Laboratory Testing?

Answer 1

Pros:

Optimal measurements of variables

Stable, controlled environment

Cons:

May be difficult for athletes to access laboratory testing

Often cost attached

Impact on training routine

Question 2

Pros and Cons of Field Testing?

Answer 2

Pros:

Accessible for the athlete

Time/cost efficient

Cons:

Control of confounding factors

Impact on training

Mental burden

Question 3

Why does acidosis as a result of high intensity exercise cause an athlete to slow down?

Answer 3

Lactate production causes a proton (H+) to be released which decreases pH.

Decrease in pH inhibits PFK, which is a rate limiting enzyme of glycolysis.

Decrease in pH inhibits Ca+ release which affects muscle contraction.

Question 4

Explain the aerobic pathway

Answer 4

pyruvate enters the tricarboxic cycle as acetyl coa

TCA cycle occurs twice for each glucose molecule

Produces small amounts of energy but large amounts of co-enzymes

Question 5

Blood volume can increases following steady intensity long distance endurance training. What are the mechanisms that cause an increase in maximal cardiac output following this increase in blood volume?

Answer 5

Increase in blood volume results in an increase in end diastolic volume (EDV)

An increase in EDV results in an increase in stroke volume (SV)

Therefore since heart rate maximum will not have changed, maximum cardiac output will increase as Qmax = SV x HRmax

Question 6

Lactate threshold (LT)

Answer 6

‘The first point where lactate levels first start to rise above baseline’

Question 7

Lactate turnpoint (LTP)

Answer 7

‘The second break point – sudden and sustained increase in blood lactate’

Question 8

Name the 4 Training zones

Answer 8

Easy Training (E)

Steady Training (S)

Tempo Training (T)

Interval Training (I)