Effect of Two Different Long–Sprint Training Regimens on Sprint Performance and Associated Metabolic Responses

Overview & Synopsis

The purpose of this study was to analyze 2 different long-sprint training programs (TPs) of equal total work load, completed either with short recovery (SR) or long recovery (LR) between sets and to compare the effects of 6 long-sprint training sessions (TSs) conducted over a 2-week period on a 300-m performance. Fourteen trained subjects performed 3 pretraining maximal sprints (50-, 100-, and 300-m), were paired according to their 300-m performance, and randomly allocated to an LR or SR group, which performed 6 TSs consisting of sets of 150, 200, or 250 m. The recovery in the LR group was double that of the SR group. During the third TS and the 300-m pretest and posttest, blood pH, bicarbonate concentration (½HCO3), excess-base (EB), and lactate concentration were recorded. Compared with a similar TS performed with SR, the LR training tends to induce a greater alteration of the acid-base balance: pH: 7.09 6 0.08 (LR) and 7.14 6 0.05 (SR) (p = 0.10), ½HCO3: 7.8 6 1.9 (LR) and 9.6 6 2.7 (SR) (p = 0.04), and EB: 221.1 6 3.8 (LR) and 217.7 6 2.8 (SR) (p = 0.11). A significant improvement in the 300-m performance between pre-TP and post-TP (42.45 6 2.64 vs. 41.52 6 2.45, p = 0.01) and significant decreases in pH (p , 0.01), EB (p , 0.001) and increase in [La] (p , 0.001) have been observed post-TP compared with those pre-TP. Although sprint training with longer recovery induces higher metabolic disturbances, both sprint training regimens allow a similar 300-m performance improvement with no concomitant significant progress in the 50- and 100-m performance.