This dissertation examines the history of the application of science to the training of elite runners through 1975. In particular, it details the changes that occurred in the ruling theories of training within the framework of what Thomas Kuhn, author of The Structure of Scientific Revolutions refers to as a “paradigm shift.” The quest for the origins of training began in ancient Greece where the earliest written histories of athletics were recorded. There, according to the sophist Philostratus, a rudimentary form of periodization (a process of structuring training into phases) was born. Examination of eighteenth and the bulk of nineteenth century training practices revealed little difference in the training of horses, fighting cocks, greyhounds, pugilists (boxers), and runners. In the lead up to WWI, training could be classified as “light,” where athletes stayed competitive with very little training. Athletic training between WWI and WWII was characterized by the advent of “moderate” training loads and the introduction of innovative training methods--fartlek and interval training. Arthur Lydiard’s recommendations of preliminary marathon training for distance runners (800- 10,000 meters) in the late 1950s, along with the training of Emil Zátopek, Peter Snell,and Jim Ryun, epitomized a transition from moderate to “heavy” training loads thatoccurred between 1945 and 1975. Meanwhile, other eminent coaches such as Payton Jordan of Stanford University and William Bowerman of the University of Oregon offered balance to the heavy volume training approach by emphasizing quality over quantity. Following WWII, in the battle for world ideological supremacy, the Soviet Union utilized sport as a political tool to demonstrate the superiority of its communist system. Integral to achieving the best sporting results was the application of “cutting edge” sport science and the advent of modern-day periodization. The first detailed English-language overview of Professor Lev Pavlovich Matveyev’s groundbreaking theory of periodization by Frank Dick of Great Britain in 1975 caused a major shift in the paradigm of planning an athlete’s training--so much so, that by the turn of the twenty-first century, periodization formed the foundation of most modern coaching theory and practice and the basis of every serious athlete’s training. / text

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 4-week reduction in training volume and intensity on performance of distance runners. Ten well-conditioned males underwent 4-weeks of base training (BT) at their accustomed training distance (71.8 ± 3.6 km/wk) and pace (76% of total distance above 70% V02 max intensity), before reducing training (RT) for an additional 4 weeks. Training volume was decreased by -.66% to 24.8 km/wk and frequency by 50% to 3 runs per week. Training intensity was reduced such that all running was at less than 70% V02 max (68.2 ± 1.6%). At the end of BT (week 0), and weeks 2 and 4 of RT, resting heart rate, calculated plasma volume, testosterone and cortisol levels, and submaximal treadmill efficiency were assessed. At weeks 0 and 4, V02 max and 5 kilometer race performance was determined. The ratio of testosterone to cortisol was increased significantly with RT (0.054 ± 0.008 at week 0 to 0.082 ± 0.020 at week 4), although the individual testosterone and cortisol concentrations were not significantly altered. Maximum oxygen consumption, and time to exhaustion during the max tests were not altered with RT. Body weight tended to increase (p=0.09) due to a significant increase in percent body fat (p<0.05). Submaximal treadmill runs at 65%, 85%, and 95% V02 max revealed no alterations in absolute V02 while relative V02 decreased significantly. This decrease in relative V02 was due partially to the weight increases and partially to a significant increase in respiratory exchange ratio (RER). Resting and submaximal treadmill heart rate (HR) were unchanged with FIT, while maximal treadmill HR and race HR were increased significantly. Calculated plasma volume was unaltered. Leg and overall ratings of perceived exertion were decreased during RT with the overall rating reaching significance (p<0.05). Blood lactic acid concentration was found to be significantly higher at the 95% V02 max workload following RT (8.39 ± 0.46 vs 9.89 ± 0.46 mmol/L at week 0 and 4, respectively). Five kilometer race time increased significantly from 16.6 ± 0.3 at week 0 to 16.8 ± 0.3 minutes at week 4 (12.1 seconds). It is concluded that a 4-week reduction in training volume and intensity in these runners resulted in a significant decrease in race performance despite the maintenance of aerobic capacity. / School of Physical Education