What is the best training strategy to boost endurance performance?
Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile in 1952 running about 2 miles during each training session. He used high intensity interval training methods developed by eastern European, Australian, and British coaches. During the 1970s, great distance runners such as Steve Prefontaine and Gerry Lindgren ran as many as 150 miles per week using a training technique called LSD (long, slow distance). Scientists and coaches thought that LSD training was better than intervals for building oxygen transport and muscle metabolic capacity. Coaches are now going back to the high intensity methods of the 1950s and adding plyometrics and weight training programs to improve performance in endurance events. Canadian researchers found that six sessions of sprint interval training (total of 15 minutes in 2 weeks) increased muscle oxidative capacity (citrate synthase) by almost 50 percent, muscle glycogen by 20 percent, and cycle endurance capacity by 100 percent. This study showed the importance of high inte
