Mujika, I., Goya, A., Padilla, S., Grijalba, A., Forostiaga, E., Ibanez, J. (2000). Physiological responses to a 6-d taper in middle-distance runners: Influence of training intensity and volume. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 32, 511-517.

Male middle-distance runners completed 15 weeks of training and were then assigned to a moderate volume taper group (MOD; N = 4; 50% progressive reduction in low intensity continuous and high intensity interval training) or a low volume taper group (LOW; N = 4; 75% progressive reduction in low intensity continuous and high intensity interval training). The taper lasted for six days.

Performance was not significantly enhanced by either taper protocol. For all Ss as one group, red cell count, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration significantly decreased and reticulocyte count increased with the taper.

It was concluded that the taper mainly affected blood parameters. While not enhancing performance, a reduction in work volume over six days by as much as 75% will not adversely affect performance.

Implication. A six-day taper of work volume of as much as -75% will not adversely affect performance. In this case, performance was not enhanced.

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