The Influence of High Intensity Training on Cardio-Respiratory Biomarkers, Aerobic Metabolism and Time Trial Performance in Recreationally-Trained Individuals

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of high intensity sprint training, interval training and aerobic training on cardio-respiratory biomarkers, aerobic metabolism and time trial performance in recreationally trained individuals. Twenty six men (mean ± SD age 20 ± 2 yr, height 169.3 ± 8.5 cm, weight 71.3 ± 6.2 kg) were split evenly between the three training protocols, plus a non exercising control group. All subjects in the experimental groups were randomly assigned 4 weeks of either aerobic training, high intensity sprint training or high intensity interval training. Changes in 60 km time trial performance, lactate threshold, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), resting metabolic rate (RMR), total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), resting stroke volume (SV) and resting cardiac output (Q) were measured during the course of study pre and post intervention. Post intervention the HI training group displayed a significantly lower 60km time trial performance compared to both the aerobic group (2.9% P=0.002) and the interval training group (2.01% P=0.027), however this result was not a significant improvement within the group. No other variable changed significantly over the course of the training intervention. The implications of these results indicate that none of the tested training interventions are reliable routines to follow if the aim is to improve the aforementioned variables in a 4 week time scale, after following a pre-intervention 8 week aerobic training programme.