Influence of an unaccustomed increase in training volume vs intensity on performance, hematological and blood-chemical parameters in distance runners.

The hypothesis was tested that high-volume endurance training can be monitored using hematological and blood-chemical parameters as markers of an early stage in the overtraining process. Eight experienced distance runners participated in a prospective, experimental, controlled study. The study consisted of an unaccustomed average 103% increase in training volume (ITV) within 4 weeks (average final volume: 174.6 km per week). A year later, 9 runners performed the additional 4-week control study that consisted of an unaccustomed average 152% increase in intensive training measures (ITI). Average total volume amounted to 61.7 km (week 1) and 84.7 km (week 4). Seven athletes participated in both studies. Simultaneously to performance diagnostics, a comprehensive pattern of hematological and blood-chemical parameters was determined. During ITV, submaximum running performance was improved after 2 weeks, stopped improving between week 3 and 4; maximum performance did not increase rather was decreased after week 4 compared to baseline as indication of an early stage in the overtraining process. During ITI, submaximum and maximum running performances increased continuously. In contrast to ITI, the following parameters decreased significantly during ITV: White blood cell count, serum iron, ferritin, VLDL-(very low density lipoproteins), LDL (low density lipoproteins)-cholesterol, albumin, resting and maximum free fatty acid, maximum lactate, resting, submaximum and maximum glucose, summed amino acid, resting, submaximum and maximum ammonia concentrations, whereas prothrombin time increased significantly. During high-volume endurance training a multifactorial and longitudinal approach considering either a performance incompetence and an individually different range of symptoms and alterations in hematological and blood-chemical parameters can help to recognize an early stage in the overtraining process.