Taylor, E. B., Parcell, A. C., Creer, A. R., Sawyer, R. D., Guthrie, M., & Eyestone, E. D. (2002). The effect of work and rest distribution on lactate production during interval training. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 34(5), Supplement abstract 1539.

This investigation examined the effect of work and rest distribution on lactate production during interval training. Male college middle-distance and distance runners (N = 12) completed two different workouts separated by seven days. The long-interval workout consisted of 4 x 800 m run in 140 seconds with a recovery period of 120 seconds. The short-interval workout consisted of 8 x 400 m run in 70 seconds with a recovery period of 51 seconds. Thus, the total workouts were 15:20 with 6:00 of recovery and 9:20 of work for a total distance of 3200 m.

Post-workout lactates were significantly higher for the long-interval when compared to the short-interval training.

Implication. Short intervals with short recovery times keep lactate accumulation down while longer work and rest periods elevate it. Work and rest intervals will determine the amount of work that can be performed at a particular quality level at training. Short work and rest intervals are conducive to a greater volume of specific work being performed. [See ultra-short training on this web site.]

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