This is an article that I came across…i'm wondering if anyone knows anything about training for these…...
There is an essential difference between lactic tolerance training and Lactic Power training. That is to do with their effect on efficiency development. Athletes who spend too much time & over a prolonged period training with high levels of lactic acid that is experienced while they are running will likely steadily decrease their efficiency.
The Lactic Anaerobic system supplies energy for sustained speed and is essential for 200m-1500m the latter because of the required need to finish fast as well as sustain a pace that is above VO2max. The unwanted side effect of this energy system is decreased ph (increased acid) of the blood in the working muscles.
This provides a challenge to the athlete to be able to co-ordinate and run fast with high & increasing levels of acidosis in their legs (& arms). This ability to co-ordinate can be improved with training hence the use of Lactic Tolerance sessions.
When an athlete has hardly done any fast training their Lactic Anaerobic system will usually be quite low in its capacity to provide energy. This is why Lactic Power sessions are performed to stimulate the system to increase its output and hence the associated acidosis will increase. Lactate can be measured in the blood of athletes to measure the output of the Lactic energy system. It will known that athletes like Michael Johnson could produce far greater peak lactate values than any elite marathon runner who have a far smaller capacity Lactic Anaerobic system.
I believe athletes as they are preparing for their race seasons should focus on the development of the output of this system in a way that does not overly stress lactic tolerance. The reason being that the loss of running form that can be produced in an athlete during a hard lactic tolerance session can become habituated. This results in decreasing the athletes efficiency. I believe Lactic Tolerance training has its place in a small part of the precompetition phase and should be as much as possible isolated toward shorter distance reps of 100m-300m. Racing is the best Lactic Tolerance training an athlete can do.
The effect of training with Lactic Power sessions is that the athlete will have early in the season the ability to start fast and run well for the first 80% of the race but then their deficiencies in Lactic Tolerance may cause them to fade in the final stages of the race. However after a few solid early season races and some smart use of Lactic Tolerance training the athletes will have that aspect of their races covered. I believe the final stage of the race is the icing on the cake.
Anyone have any ideas on this?
The whole thread is here - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/400-800-1500/message/46
