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In this episode, Dr. Kate Spilsbury joins us to discuss some of her work that investigated the tapering strategies of elite distance runners:

 

European Journal of Sport Science 

Volume 15, 2015 - Issue 5

APPLIED SPORT SCIENCES

 

Tapering strategies in elite British endurance runners

 

Kate L. Spilsbury

Barry W. Fudge

Stephen A. Ingham

Steve H. Faulkner

Myra A. Nimmo

 

Pages 367-373 | Published online: 05 Sep 2014

https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2014.955128

 

Abstract

 

The aim of the study was to explore pre-competition training practices of elite endurance runners.

 

Training details from elite British middle distance (MD; 800 m and 1500 m), long distance (LD; 3000 m steeplechase to 10,000 m) and marathon (MAR) runners were collected by survey for 7 days in a regular training (RT) phase and throughout a pre-competition taper.

 

Taper duration was [median (interquartile range)] 6 (3) days in MD, 6 (1) days in LD and 14 (8) days in MAR runners. Continuous running volume was reduced to 70 (16) %, 71 (24) % and 53 (12) % of regular levels in MD, LD and MAR runners, respectively (P < 0.05). Interval running volume was reduced compared to regular training (MD; 53 (45) %, LD; 67 (23) %, MAR; 64 (34) %, P < 0.05). During tapering, the peak interval training intensity was above race speed in LD and MAR runners (112 (27) % and 114 (3) %, respectively, P