This study utilized an experimental design testing low, medium, and high intensity warm-up protocols for NCAA Division I 800-meter male and female middle distance runners to determine which result in optimal outcomes in a peak performance, i.e., 800-meter time trial. Mississippi State University student athletes on the Track and Field Team who compete in middle distance running events participated. Among males, results of the repeated measures ANOVA found no significant difference among the three warm-up protocols for the first 400 meters completed. For females, repeated measures ANOVA results found no significant difference among the protocols for the first 200 meters completed. However, at the completion of the 800-meter time trial, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was seen among both males and females; post hoc analyses indicated that the high intensity warm-up group had a statistically significantly lower (i.e., better) total time than the low intensity warm-up group.

There are few scientific studies, that research the problems of the high skills in the average distance runners training in Lithuania. M. Norbutas is a Lithuanian record - breaker in 800m distance running. And he was the first Lithuanian, who entered a contest in World Championship and the Olympic Games. M. Norbutas annual training cycle in the run – up to the World Championship in San Denis (the season of years 2002 – 2003) are analyzed in herein work. Also the training technique, the strain alternation in the annual training cycle and the dynamics of the contest score in the Athens Olympics (the season of years 2003 – 2004) are analyzed. And similarly, the best world runners of the average distance: the world record – breaker in 1500m distance running, the champion of Athens Olympics in 1500m and 5000m distance, the Maroccan H. El. Geurroj (preparation for the World Championship in 1997), the champion of Athens Olympics in 800m distance, the Russian Y. Borzakovskiy (preparation for the World Championship in closed accommodation in 2001), the Olympic champion of 1500m distance running in Barcelona and the European record – breaker, the Spaniard F. Cacho (preparation for the World Championship in Barcelona in 1992). The training techniques and the structure of micro cycles of those sportsmen are compared to the techniques of M. Norbutas. The physical development, the physical qualification, the functional alternation of a fitness rate in the run – up to the Olympic Games in... [to full text]