Tsampoukos, A., Peyrebrune, M. C., Davies, J., & Nevill, M. E. (2003). Effects of endurance training on power output recovery and blood metabolic responses during repeated sprints. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 35(5), Supplement abstract 520.

Female university students (N = 15) served as subjects. Two 30-s sprints with two minutes of passive recovery were performed followed by a VO2max test before and after six weeks of endurance training. Endurance training (N = 8) consisted of three sessions per week of 30-min of treadmill running at 80-85% VO2max. Seven Ss continued with normal training.

VO2max increased in the endurance training group and decreased in the normal training group. Mean power output recovery improved after endurance training but not in the normal training group. There were no differences in recovery of peak power output or peak lactate. The endurance training group tended to have higher pH values after the sprints.

Implication. Endurance training results in significant improvement of recovery power output. Sprinters should experience some endurance training to facilitate performing a greater volume of higher intensity work in interval training.

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