APPELHANS, D., KNOPP, M., SCHÖNFELDER, M., WACKERHAGE, H.
Pages contribution:
96
Abstract:
INTRODUCTION: A typical training plan is a mix of many interventions, such as runs of different lengths and intensities. It is
virtually impossible to measure the effectiveness of such a complex, months-long intervention in high quality intervention
trials such as a randomised control trial [1]. To start addressing this evidence problem, Haugen et al. have summarised
training plans of elite athletes that have achieved world-class performance despite or because of the training plan [2].
They termed this approach results-based practice. The aim of this study was to use a novel systematic review strategy to
quantitatively analyse subjective sub-elite marathon training plans in order to determine a typical marathon training recommendation and report recommended training strategies.
METHODS: We obtained training plans from non-scientific sources using the search term “marathon training”. We found
92 training plans and transcribed them into a uniform format with the goal to split each session into a kilometre distance
in each of the five intensity zones [3]. To do this, two researchers independently agreed upon the classification for each
session. Subsequently, each training plan was grouped based on the total mileage in the peak week, defined as highest
volume week, into low (< 65 km/week), middle (65-90 km/week), and high (> 90 km/week) training volume.
RESULTS: Low mileage training plans had an average weekly volume of 43.5 ± 15.5 km that was split into 9.9 ± 3.6% in
zone 1, 68.6 ± 5.7% in zone 2, 16.5 ± 5.9% in zone 3, 2.8 ± 1.0% in zone 4, and 2.2 ± 0.5% in zone 5. Low mileage training
plans recommend the shortest weekly long runs of 20.5 ± 8.3 km (p < .001). Next, the middle mileage training plans recommended an average weekly volume of 58.1 ± 19.4 km with 15.4 ± 1.8% in zone 1, 61.3 ± 4.5% in zone 2, 17.6 ± 5.1% in
zone 3, 2.3 ± 0.6% in zone 4, and 3.3 ± 0.5% in zone 5, and recommended an average weekly long run session of 23.0 ±
8.3 km. Lastly, high mileage training plans recommended an average weekly volume of 104.9 ± 39.2 km that was split
into 15.0 ± 4.5% in zone 1, 68.1 ± 4.8% in zone 2, 8.7 ± 3.7% in zone 3, 5.2 ± 2.9% in zone 4, and 3.0 ± 1.2% in zone 5, and
had the longest weekly long runs of 26.9 ± 7.9 km (p < .001). Especially, the high mileage training plans recommended a
polarized training intensity distribution with around 85% in zone 1+2 and 8% in zone 4+5.
CONCLUSION: There is a lack of experimental high-quality evidence for the effectiveness of complex training plans over
several months. By performing a systematic, quantitative analysis of 92 marathon training plans, we determined typical
recommendations for varying performances. Whilst this approach has obvious limitations such as no measurement of the
resulting marathon performance, it is arguably a useful strategy to address the evidence problem in training practice.
REFERENCES:
[1] Wackerhage et al., Sports Med, 2021; [2] Haugen et al., Sports Med Open, 2022; [3] Seiler et al., Int J Sports Physiol
Perform, 2010
Dewey Decimal Classification:
790 Sport, Spiele, Unterhaltung
Editor:
European College of Sport Science
Book / Congress title:
Book of Abstracts of the 28th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, 4 – 7 July 2023