INTRODUCTION: Periodization of training is a systematic regulation of training content through the manipulation of exercise session duration, intensity, frequency, and modality to achieve optimal performance at the appropriate time. Several studies have previously reported the annual training periodization of elite, endurance winter-sport athletes; however, this research has primarily used small samples sizes (e.g., n<20), or not included female athletes. Therefore, the present study aimed to describe the annual training characteristics of elite female Norwegian cross-country skiers and biathletes, and to compare athletes of different performance-levels. METHODS: A total of 89 elite, female cross-country skiers and biathletes (21 ± 2.8 y; 62.5 ± 4.6 kg, 628 ± 109 training h/year) systematically recorded all day-to-day training session data in an online training diary for the 2020-21 season. Variables collected included duration and frequency of endurance training sessions distributed across three intensity zones (low intensity [LIT]; moderate intensity [MIT]; and high intensity (HIT]), and self-reported session intensity (Borg CR10 scale). Data were grouped into five training phases: general preparatory 1 (GP1; May - July [13 weeks]), general preparatory 2 (GP2; July - October [13 weeks]), specific preparatory (SP; October - December [9 weeks]), competitive period (CP; December - March [14 weeks]), and recovery (April [4 weeks]). Data were analysed with linear or cumulative logit-link mixed models and presented as mean ± standard deviation or [95% confidence intervals]. RESULTS: Over the annual season, athletes trained 634 ± 171 h across 412 ± 89 sessions. The proportion of time spent as LIT was relatively constant (~90%) across all phases and only rose during recovery. In contrast, the proportion of MIT was initially elevated during GP1 (5.2% [4.6-5.8%]) and then decreased in GP2, while HIT started at a lower proportion in GP1 (4.2% [3.6-4.7%]) and increased in subsequent phases (p=.001-.008), peaking during CP (5.6% [5.1-6.2%]). Session intensity was constant across GP1 and GP2 but then decreased for SP and CP (p=.011-.032). National-team athletes performed relatively more MIT than the non-national team athletes during the competitive phase (4.8% [4.2-5.4%] vs 3.6% [2.5,4.6%]; p=.039), although there was no difference between the groups when presented as total MIT duration across the phase (p=.136). CONCLUSION: This sample of elite female cross-country skiers and biathletes reported a high annual training duration (600+ hours/year). The majority of training was completed as LIT and this proportion was relatively constant throughout the season. Periodization between training phases appeared to be regulated via a shift from MIT to HIT over the season.
© Copyright 2022 27th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Sevilla, 30. Aug - 2. Sep 2022. Julkaistu Tekijä Faculty of Sport Science - Universidad Pablo de Olavide. Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään. / Kääntänyt https://www.DeepL.com/Translator