Effect of Training Load on OBLA Determination

• Published in: International journal of sports medicine 1989-10, Vol.10 (5), p.346-351
• Main Authors: Dotan, R., Rotstein, A., Grodjinovsky, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Applied physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Humans; Lactates - blood; Lactic Acid; Male; Medical sciences; Physical Education and Training - methods; Physical Exertion; Physical Fitness; Pulmonary Gas Exchange; Running; Space life sciences
• ISSN: 0172-4622; 1439-3964
• DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1024926

Abstract Fifteen male long-distance runners, 35.9±8.2 years of age, participated in the study. They had 5.7±2.3 years of running experience, marathon best time of 2,58:51±0,14:45 h, 10-km personal record of 37:18±2:50 min, and maximal aerobic power of 64.6±5.8 ml · kg -1 · min -1 . Their 4 mM · 1 -1 lactate threshold (OBLA) was tested twice in a randomized order: once following a week of light, pre-race-like training, and once after a week of heavy training load. The parameters measured during the OBLA tests were: rating of perceived exertion (RPE), running economy (E), heart rate (HR), respiratory exchange ratio (R), and running velocity at OBLA. Compared with the light load treatment, RPE following the heavy training week rose by 0.8 units, HR and E remained unchanged, and R decreased slightly (0.012). Running velocity at OBLA was raised 0.42 km · h -1 by the heavy training, but a negative correlation was found between this change and the baseline (light load) OBLA velocity (R=-0.57). It is suggested that in athletes the usefulness of OBLA testing, aimed at assessing current performance capacity, could be compromised by lack of control over the immediately preceding training schedules. However, it appears that the susceptibility to the lack of such standardization may be reduced or absent in higher level runners.