Thesis (M.S.)--Boise State University, 2009. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-54).

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This study examined the effects of plyometrics on running economy, performance, and Achilles tendon properties in female distance runners. Seventeen University athletes matched by running economy were randomly assigned to an experimental group that received supplementary plyometrics training (n=9) or a control group that performed run-training only (n=8). Subject attrition led to a final sample of twelve runners (6 experimental, 6 controls). Measurements were made pre-post an 8-week training period. Running economy was measured as oxygen consumption at three submaximal speeds, performance as time to run 3000 meters, and Achilles tendon properties were estimated via ultrasound during ramp, quasi-isometric plantar flexion to maximum on an isokinetic dynamometer. No significant differences were found between the two groups after eight weeks because of poor subject compliance and excessive variability in ultrasound measurements. The results are inconclusive as to the effect of supplementary plyometric training on running economy, performance and Achilles tendon properties.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boise State University, 2009. / Title from t.p. of PDF file (viewed June 7, 2010). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-54).

It is common practice for endurance athletes to manipulate training load prior to an important competition, known as tapering. An effective strategy aims to alleviate accumulated fatigue, whilst maximising physiological adaptation and facilitating a peak performance. Improvements in performance of 0.5 to 6.0% have been reported after a successful taper, a margin that could potentially have a dramatic influence on performance outcome at the elite level. This thesis explored the strategies currently employed by elite endurance athletes and investigated novel training manipulations during the taper to further enhance performance, to gain a more thorough understanding of the physiological mechanisms, and to identify a minimally invasive physiological biomarker capable of monitoring recovery status during the taper. Tapering strategies in elite endurance athletes were shown to be individualised and influenced by the preceding training load. Algorithms were developed, capable of explaining a large proportion of the variance (53-95%) in tapering strategy training variables (with the exception of interval volume), for a given pre-taper training load (Chapter III). A tapering strategy implemented using the algorithms was most likely to improve 1,500 m treadmill performance (ES = 0.53). When the intensity of final interval session was increased from 100% to 115% race speed, the effect on treadmill performance was unclear (ES = 0.22) and perhaps due to insufficient recovery to respond positively to the increased intensity interval session (Chapter IV). When continuous volume was reduced further (by 60%), the novel high intensity strategy was very likely to improve 1,500 m track performance (ES = 0.74), compared to the algorithm-derived taper (ES = 0.40) (Chapter VI). In middle-distance runners, training above race speed in the final days of the taper might be more beneficial than current practice, although training volume must be further reduced to compensate. It was possible to measure plasma concentrations of interleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-6 receptor from capillary samples (Chapter II), although these markers in addition to C-reactive protein, testosterone and cortisol were not sensitive enough to detect changes in recovery status during tapering (Chapters IV and V). Measures of muscle maximum voluntary contraction force (algorithm-derived taper: 9%; ES = 0.39; novel taper: 6%; ES = 0.29), and rate of force development (algorithm-derived taper: ES = 0.53; novel taper: ES = 0.26) improved in response to tapering (Chapter IV), and could represent alternative non-invasive markers of recovery and taper effectiveness to facilitate peak performance.

Orientador: Antonia Dalla Pria Bankoff / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação Fisica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-08T02:53:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Schmidt_Ademir_D.pdf: 56451276 bytes, checksum: 5b096a2973998a3ce6ed8b83c8ddc707 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: As corridas de longa distância, sejam de caráter competitivo ou de promoção da saúde, geram cargas compressivas consideráveis no sistema locomotor. Essas cargas, se não adequadamente distribuídas, predispõem os praticantes a lesões crônicas e agudas. Nesse sentido, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi estudar a distribuição da pressão plantar e do equilíbrio corporal em corredores de longa distância. Participaram do estudo 17 corredores de longa distância do sexo masculino com idade X = 28,5 :t 9,5 anos, peso X = 63,6 :t 6,9 Kg e altura X = 173,5 :t 7,0 cm. A seleção dos sujeitos foi feita segundo critérios de acessibilidade. Para o estudo da distribuição da pressão plantar e do equiHbrio corporal, foi utilizado um baropodômetro eletrônico para realizar uma análise estática, dinâmica (andando e correndo) e uma análise estabilométrica. Os três testes foram realizados com os corredores inicialmente descalços e posteriormente utilizando seu tênis de corrida. Além da análise baropodométrica, os sujeitos responderam um questionário contendo 23 perguntas sobre sua rotina de treino, índice de lesões sofridas, distância percorrida semanalmente, dentre outras. Na análise estatística utilizou-se o teste paramétrico t-Student para grupos independentes. Os resultados da análise baropodométrica estática dos corredores demonstraram distribuição assimétrica da carga entre os membros inferiores, com maior carga direcionada para a parte anterior do pé direito. A distribuição da pressão plantar revelou maior carga na parte anterior do pé esquerdo nos testes dinâmicos com os corredores descalços, enquanto que nos testes com o calçado esportivo não foram detectadas diferenças significantes. Foi constatado que os corredores avaliados realizam o contato pé-solo predominantemente com a parte anterior do pé. O uso do calçado esportivo não apresentou nenhuma interferência específica nos testes realizados. A oscilação do centro de pressão foi maior nos testes monopodálicos. O estudo do equilíbrio corporal demonstrou significativa dependência do sistema visual e tendência de maior oscilação do centro de pressão no eixo X / Abstract: Long distance running as a competitive way or even to promote health produces considerable compressive load on the locomotor system. If this load is not properly distributed, it makes practitioners prone to chronic and acute injuries. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to study the plantar pressure distribution and body balance in long distance runners. In total 17 male long distance runners were considered for this study with age X = 28.5 :t 9.5, weight X = 63.6 :t 6.9 kg and height X = 173.5 :t 7.0 cm. The selection of individuaIs was done by following accessibility criteria. To perform the study ofthe plantar pressure distribution and body balance an electronic baropodometer was used. The baropodometric tests comprised a static, a dynamic (walking and running) and a stabilometric analysis. All tests were performed initially barefoot and afterwards with the runners wearing their running shoes. The individuaIs also responded to a 23 question survey about their practice routine, injury incidence, distance performed during the week and so forth. A parametric t-Student test for independent groups was used for the statistic analysis. The results of the static baropodometric analysis showed asymmetric pressure distribution between the lower extremities, with greater pressure directed to the right forefoot. The plantar pressure distribution reveled grater load directed to the left forefoot in the dynamic tests performed with the sport running shoes, meanwhile no significant differences were detected in the barefoot tests. The results also demonstrated that the runners evaluated in this study were predominantly forefoot strikers. The running shoes did not show any specific influence on the tests results. Oscillation of the center of pressure was greater in the unilateral tests. The body balance study revealed significant visual system dependence and a tendency of greater oscillations ofthe center ofpressure on the X-axis / Doutorado / Ciencia do Desporto / Doutor em Educação Física

Introduction: Running economy (RE) is known to be a strong indicator for performance on long distance running. RE is improved by plyometric training through an increase in stiffness in the musculotendinous system. Stretch shorten cycle (SSC) is a function in the muscle where a contraction is preceded by a stretch or an eccentric action. Orienteering is an endurance sport where RE is important for performance. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine whether or not there is a correlation between jumping performance and performance on long distance running in young elite orienteers 16-19 years old. Methods: 34 young elite orienteers did drop jumps (DJ) and countermovement jumps (CMJ) on an ErgoJump Bosco System contact mat. In conjunction with the jumps time on a 5 or 7 km (for girls and boys respectively) running test was collected. Pearson's correlation test was then used to determine the correlation between jumping height and running velocity. Results: The jumping height of the CMJ was on average 30,46 cm and 28,24 cm for the DJ. The running velocity was on average 14,19 km/h. Pearson's correlation test for the correlation between DJ and running velocity was 0,463 and for the correlation between CMJ and running velocity it was 0,461. In both cases the significance was 0,006. Conclusions: There is a significant, moderate to strong correlation between jump height in DJ and CMJ and performance on long distance running on a running test in young elite orienteers.

Exercise-induced fatigue may be caused by increases in cerebral serotonin resulting in symptoms of central fatigue (i.e. decreased mood, and increased stress and sleepiness). Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation is one intervention that can reduce symptoms of central fatigue by competing for the tryptophan transporter reducing serotonin synthesis. Psychological monitoring tools such as The Daily Analysis of Life Demands for Athletes (DALDA) Questionnaire can be used to study symptoms of central fatigue by identifying sources of general and sport-specific stress as well as an athlete’s reaction to stressors. PURPOSE: To examine the response of BCAA on stress perception of trained collegiate distance runners using DALDA. METHODS: 8 collegiate distance runners (men n=4, women n=4) took BCAA supplement (SUP) (0.08g/kg) or placebo (PLA) daily for 6 weeks, alternating conditions week to week. Each morning athletes filled out the 34-item DALDA prior to training by selecting one of 3 answers corresponding to stress symptoms: A = “feel worse than normal”, B= “feel normal”, C= “feel better than normal”. Response ratios were generated for each of the 3 answers for each condition (SUP or PLA) by taking total number of responses for each answer over number of answers overall. Response ratios were calculated as weekly mean ± SD and MANOVA was used for analysis. The alpha criterion was set to p<0.05. RESULTS: Statistical significance was found (p<0.01), and further analyses were done to examine changes from week to week. On average, athletes reported fewer ‘A’ responses in SUP weeks than PLA weeks (SUP: 9.27% ± 2.21%; PLA: 13.46% ± 7.29%), while response percentage for ‘C’ was the same between both conditions (SUP: 11.78 ± 2.12%; PLA: 11.24% ± 2.32%). Changes from SUP weeks to PLA weeks produced noticeable changes in ‘A’ responses (e.g.: 14.36% SUP week to PLA week; -9.95% from PLA week to SUP week). CONCLUSIONS: Results from DALDA revealed a noticeable change in the stress response of the athletes from condition to condition. The athletes reported higher instances of feeling “worse than normal” during PLA weeks and fewer instances of feeling “worse than normal” during SUP weeks. These results indicate that BCAA supplementation seems to be an effective means of reducing the stress perception in these collegiate distance runners.

This paper focuses on the history and future of Kenyan Long-Distance Running.

The current research investigates pricing practices and consumer behavior in long-distance running events. Two studies address (1) current practices in pricing and registration policies for long-distance running events, and (2) factors that influence the decision-making process by which event organizers develop, adopt, and implement particular pricing policies. Study One involves a descriptive census of policies currently in use for a comprehensive list of running events in the United States that include races at the full or half marathon distance. Study Two adopts a multi-case study approach based on semi-structured interviews of running event organizers, supplemented by additional organizational documents, to investigate the pricing and registration policy development process. Collectively, these two studies examine the what, the why, and the how of pricing policy development in long-distance running events. Based on study findings, a conceptual model was developed incorporating major sources of influence (organizational, consumer, environmental, and event) on the pricing policy development process. This research contributes to sport management by providing deeper understanding of how participant sport, specifically long-distance running events, is priced and how pricing decisions influence consumer behaviors. Results additionally provide practical insight for running event organizers seeking to improve or enhance pricing policies and revenue management by understanding both common and atypical practices in use throughout the running event industry. Finally the current research lays a foundation for a stream of future research building on findings from two studies and data generated in the process of addressing the overarching research questions. / Tourism and Sport