Differences of endurance training vs anaerobic training for endurance

[Dan Snyder]

This may be obvious but I'm curious to hear about what folks think about the unique effects of endurance training for endurance. It seems to me that the training effect of a several-hour effort trains one to endure a several-hour effort in ways that high intensity training can't. Of course there are numerous detriments to endurance specific training but are there any case studies where a sprinter for instance, ran an endurance race and performed similar to an endurance trained athlete? What are the detriments, if any, high intensity/interval training has for endurance trained athletes especially if endurance trained athletes were to train for an extended period anaerobically?

[Greg Everett]

I think the key here is defining the duration in question. Brief, high-intensity interval type training will produce adequate results to a point. But once you start getting into longer events, specific LSD training is a must. I don't think that extended training is necessary to actually develop endurance in the sense of cardiopulmonary capacity, but more to condition body structures to endure that kind of extended, repetitive abuse, develop movement technique and economy, and to prepare the athlete mentally.

Another component is simply body comp as well--to be a successful endurance athlete, you simply cannot be large and muscular. Long term endurance training will eventually cause atrophy of type II muscle and even type I eventually to create a body of minimal mass and great capillary density. If muscularity is maintained through high intensity training, this is obviously counterproductive to high-end endurance athletics.

[Robb Wolf]

Dan-
The Power running site has a nice perspective on this:
http://www.powerrunning.com/

Basicly sprint work, strength work and then trying to run your even AT race pace. Specificity is covered with the race pace efforts while power and foot turn over are improved with power and sprint work. I think this combo is where it's at for elite performance unless the event is very long in which case you want something like what Greg described, in which every non-essential scrap of tissue has been catabolized. Not a rosy picture but that may be what’s necessary for some events/activities.

I know Mark Twight commented that his long efforts (48-72hr climbs) improved Dramatically with the inclusion of CrossFit but he still needed the long efforts, almost more for mental toughness than physical performance.

[Steve Shafley]

I remember Mark Twight talking about the physical rigors of being moving that long as something that needed to be considered:

-blister formation
-raw spots from clothing
-adequate hydration during the effort

Stuff like that.

[Jeremy Jones]

As Shaf said, developing the propper 'wear' areas is also important. Some things are just not going to become tough enough without doing the extended efforts at least occationally.


Does anyone have some documentation on these super long distance runners (multi marathoner types) that have a lot of lean mass (compaired to their starving waif counterparts)?

[Chris Forbis]

I have no documentation, but I'm sure you could find some stuff about Dean Karnazes with Google. He's pretty damn jacked for an ultra-marathoner.

[Paul Kayley]

Originally Posted by Dan Snyder

This may be obvious but I'm curious to hear about what folks think about the unique effects of endurance training for endurance. It seems to me that the training effect of a several-hour effort trains one to endure a several-hour effort in ways that high intensity training can't. Of course there are numerous detriments to endurance specific training but are there any case studies where a sprinter for instance, ran an endurance race and performed similar to an endurance trained athlete? What are the detriments, if any, high intensity/interval training has for endurance trained athletes especially if endurance trained athletes were to train for an extended period anaerobically?

Hi Dan, some interesting points made in this thread, and some curious suggestions. See my thoughts on endurance training in the following thread
http://www.performancemenu.com/forum...ead.php?t=1049

I believe that a differentiation should to be made between aerobic speed and endurance.