Is exhaustive training adequate preparation for endurance performance?

Our purpose was to test the significance of exhaustive training in aerobic or endurance capacity. The extent of adaptations to endurance training was evaluated by assessing the increase in physical performance capability and oxidative markers in the organs of rats trained by various exercise programs. Rats were trained by treadmill running 5 days.week-1 at 30 m.min-1 for 8 weeks by one of three protocols: T1-60 min.day-1; T2-120 min.day-1; and T3-120 min.day-1 (3 days.week-1) and to exhaustion (2 days.week-1). Groups T2 and T3 ran for longer than T1 in an endurance exercise test (P less than 0.05), in which the animals ran at 30 m.min-1 to exhaustion; no difference was observed between groups T2 and T3. All 3 trained groups showed a similar increase (20-27%) in the fast-twitch oxidative-glycolytic (FOG) fibers with a concomitant decrease in the fast-twitch glycolytic (FG) fiber population in gastrocnemius (p less than 0.05). The capillary supply in gastrocnemius increased with the duration of exercise (p less than 0.05): no difference was found between groups T2 and T3. Likewise, no distinction was seen between groups T2 and T3 in the increase in succinate dehydrogenase activity in gastrocnemius and the heart. These results suggest that the maximal adaptive response to endurance training does not require daily exhaustive exercise.