Difference between revisions of "Tempo Runs"

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A tempo run, sometimes called a threshold run, is a common part of many training programs as coaches believe it is an effective way of improving lactate clearance. However, the science indicates that tempo paced runs should be avoided in favor of other paces. Tempo pace represents the no man's land between [[Long Run| Long Slow Distance]] and [[High Intensity Interval Training]]. They can improve performance in the untrained, but not as well as other types of training. For highly trained runners Tempo Runs may actually be counterproductive.  
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Tempo Runs, the least effective form of training}}
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A tempo run, sometimes called a threshold run, is a common part of many training programs as coaches believe it is an effective way of improving lactate clearance. However, the science indicates that tempo paced runs should be avoided in favor of other paces. Tempo pace represents the no man's land between [[Long Run| Long Slow Distance]] and [[High Intensity Interval Training]]. They are too fast to be long, and too slow to be intense. They can improve performance in the untrained, but not as well as other types of training and so they are the least effective form of training. In fact, for highly trained runners there is evidence that Tempo Runs may actually be counterproductive. While there are claims that Tempo Runs have benefits for [[Mental fortitude]] this is not supported by the science that has looked at race performance.  
 
=What is a Tempo Run?=
 
=What is a Tempo Run?=
 
A Tempo Run intended to be run at or near the pace corresponding to the [[Lactate Threshold]]. Lactate Threshold can be thought of as the transition from mostly aerobic to mostly anaerobic metabolism. In well trained athletes, paces below the Lactate Threshold can be kept up for prolonged periods (several hours), where paces about the Lactate Threshold typically cannot be maintained for more than an  hour.  
 
A Tempo Run intended to be run at or near the pace corresponding to the [[Lactate Threshold]]. Lactate Threshold can be thought of as the transition from mostly aerobic to mostly anaerobic metabolism. In well trained athletes, paces below the Lactate Threshold can be kept up for prolonged periods (several hours), where paces about the Lactate Threshold typically cannot be maintained for more than an  hour.  
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* Jack Daniels, author of [[Jack Daniels Running Formula]] says "Threshold, or T-pace, running is one of the most productive types of training that distance runners can do"<ref name="JackDaniels2015"/>.
 
* Jack Daniels, author of [[Jack Daniels Running Formula]] says "Threshold, or T-pace, running is one of the most productive types of training that distance runners can do"<ref name="JackDaniels2015"/>.
 
* Hal Higdon in "Marathon The Ultimate Training Guide" says "Exercise scientists now tell us that doing tempo runs is the most efficient way to raise your lactate threshold - that is, your ability to run at a fast pace without accumulating lactic acid in the bloodstream"<ref name="Higdon2005"/>.
 
* Hal Higdon in "Marathon The Ultimate Training Guide" says "Exercise scientists now tell us that doing tempo runs is the most efficient way to raise your lactate threshold - that is, your ability to run at a fast pace without accumulating lactic acid in the bloodstream"<ref name="Higdon2005"/>.
−
* Matt Fitzgerald in his book "Run Faster" says "Threshold training is a major part of every running coach's training system", and that "enable runners to sustain faster and faster running paces
+
* Matt Fitzgerald in his book "Run Faster" says "Threshold training is a major part of every running coach's training system", and that "Threshold runs … stimulate aerobic-system adaptations and other physiological changes that enable runners to sustain faster and faster running paces for longer and longer stretches of time"<ref name="HudsonFitzgerald2008"/>.
−
* "Threshold runs … stimulate aerobic-system adaptations and other physiological changes that enable runners to sustain faster and faster running paces for longer and longer stretches of time"<ref name="HudsonFitzgerald2008"/>
+
* It's common for scientific research to propagate the myth of the tempo run, quoting other papers that don't substantiate the claims. For instance, a 2009 research study stated "One of the most valuable exercises athletes use for developing an aerobic base is maximal steady state exercise"<ref name="Snyder-2009"/>. This study then quotes three references to back up the statement:
 +
** The 2003 study of elite Kenyan is hard to interpret in terms of Tempo runs, though less time spent at Tempo pace was correlated with better race performance<ref name="Billat-2003"/>. (See below for a more detailed analysis.)
 +
** A 1998 study only made vague mention of tempo runs, saying "These considerations lead us to reject the use of V-OBLA in the prescription of V-MLSS exercise training"<ref name="Jones-1998"/>.
 +
** A 2002 study of cyclists makes no mention of Lactate Threshold training at all<ref name="Pringle-2002"/>.
 
=The Science of Tempo Runs=
 
=The Science of Tempo Runs=
−
The idea that training at threshold intensity is particularly effective has no evidence<ref name="Beneke-2011"/>.  
+
The idea that training at threshold intensity is particularly effective has no evidence<ref name="Beneke-2011"/>. However, this is not the same as saying that tempo runs are not effective at all, just that they are not more effective than other forms of training.
 +
==Evidence in Favor of Tempo Runs==
 
* Tempo runs can improve performance in untrained subjects<ref name="Denis-1982"/><ref name="Denis-1984"/><ref name="Londeree-1997"/>. However these studies did not compare how effective tempo runs are over other forms of training.  
 
* Tempo runs can improve performance in untrained subjects<ref name="Denis-1982"/><ref name="Denis-1984"/><ref name="Londeree-1997"/>. However these studies did not compare how effective tempo runs are over other forms of training.  
 +
* A study of 9 experienced recreational masters runners showed a dramatic improvement (50%)  in time to exhaustion at Lactate Threshold after interval training at Lactate Threshold pace<ref name="Billat-2004"/>. The runners had an average half marathon time of 83 minutes (+/-5), but had never performed any form of speedwork. Their average training before the study was five runs per week for an average of 65 minutes at 12.4 KPH (7:36 min/mile). The study lasted for 6 weeks, with 2 tempo paced interval sessions replacing 2 of the slower paced runs per week. One session was 3 intervals of 10 minutes each, the second 2 intervals of 15 minutes. Each week the shorter and longer intervals were lengthened by 2 and 3 minutes respectively. After training  [[VO2max|V̇O<sub>2</sub>max]] increased 3.6% and Velocity at Lactate Threshold increased 4.2% (13.8 to 15.2 KPH, or 7:00 to 6:21). More impressively, the time to exhaustion at Lactate Threshold pace increased by a massive 50% from an average of 44 minutes before to 63 minutes after training. Unfortunately the study did not include any form of controls to know how much familiarity with the testing procedure influenced the results, nor was there any comparison with other forms of training such as [[High Intensity Interval Training]].
 +
* Four weeks of tempo training increased [[VO2max|V̇O<sub>2</sub>max]] by 10% in moderately trained runners<ref name="PhilpMacdonald2008"/>. The only control was performing interval training just above or just below tempo pace, which resulted in a smaller (6%) improvement.
 +
==Evidence Against Tempo Runs==
 
* In recreational 10K runners, there is not as much improvement from training at Lactate Threshold as from polarized (low/high) training<ref name="Muñoz-2014"/>.
 
* In recreational 10K runners, there is not as much improvement from training at Lactate Threshold as from polarized (low/high) training<ref name="Muñoz-2014"/>.
 
* Training at Tempo paces is ineffective for trained athletes<ref name="Londeree-1997"/>, and may even be counterproductive<ref name="Evertsen-2001"/><ref name="Guellich-2010"/>.
 
* Training at Tempo paces is ineffective for trained athletes<ref name="Londeree-1997"/>, and may even be counterproductive<ref name="Evertsen-2001"/><ref name="Guellich-2010"/>.
 +
* Moderately trained subjects trained for 3 days/week for 8 weeks using either Short HIIT, Long HIIT, Tempo runs, or LSD<ref name="Helgerud-2007"/>. [[VO2max|V̇O<sub>2</sub>max]] was unchanged in the tempo and LSD groups, but increased 7.2% in the Short HIIT and 5.5% in the Long HIIT groups. 
 
* Training at lower intensity (blood lactate < 2 mmol/l) is more effective at improving performance at the Lactate Threshold than training at the Lactate Threshold (3-6 mmol/l)<ref name="Guellich-2010"/>.  
 
* Training at lower intensity (blood lactate < 2 mmol/l) is more effective at improving performance at the Lactate Threshold than training at the Lactate Threshold (3-6 mmol/l)<ref name="Guellich-2010"/>.  
−
* The performance of elite 5k/10K runners is related to total time spend in low intensity training, not higher intensities<ref name="Esteve-Lanao-2005"/>.
+
* A 2007 randomly assigned 12 sub-elite 5K & cross country runners to one of two training programs<ref name="Esteve-Lanao-2007"/>. The Z1 program had 80% LSD, 10% Tempo, and 10% HIIT, whereas the Z2 program had 65% LSD, 25% Tempo, and 10% HIIT. The Z1 group that did less time at Tempo pace improved their race performance more than the Z2 group. (Their simulated 10K times improved 35 seconds more, 157 second improvement rather than 121 second improvement.)
 +
* A 2009 review of the science of training intensity noted that recreational runners typically fall into a "black hole" of too much Lactate Threshold running<ref name="Seiler-2009"/>. They noted "''Training intended to be longer and slower becomes too fast and shorter in duration, and interval training fails to reach the desired intensity. The result is that most training sessions end up being performed at the same threshold intensity''."
 +
* The performance of elite 5k/10K runners is related to total time spent in low intensity training, not higher intensities<ref name="Esteve-Lanao-2005"/>.
 
* Polarized training has been shown to be more effective than high volume/low intensity, threshold/tempo, or [[High Intensity Interval Training]]<ref name="StögglSperlich2014"/>. The polarized training used two [[High Intensity Interval Training]] and two long (150-240 minute) low intensity sessions.  
 
* Polarized training has been shown to be more effective than high volume/low intensity, threshold/tempo, or [[High Intensity Interval Training]]<ref name="StögglSperlich2014"/>. The polarized training used two [[High Intensity Interval Training]] and two long (150-240 minute) low intensity sessions.  
 
* It has been observed that elite athletes exercise 80% of the time at low intensity (blood lactate < 2 mmol/l) and 20% of the time at Lactate Threshold or [[High Intensity Interval Training]]<ref name="Seiler-2010"/>. (Sadly this study did not have any breakdown between Lactate Threshold or [[High Intensity Interval Training]].)
 
* It has been observed that elite athletes exercise 80% of the time at low intensity (blood lactate < 2 mmol/l) and 20% of the time at Lactate Threshold or [[High Intensity Interval Training]]<ref name="Seiler-2010"/>. (Sadly this study did not have any breakdown between Lactate Threshold or [[High Intensity Interval Training]].)
 +
* A study of 20 elite Kenyan runners produced rather unclear results<ref name="Billat-2003"/>. The study categorized the runners as either high-speed training (HST) or low-speed training (LST). The 7 women did no tempo runs, and the men in the HST group used tempo runs for an average of 7% (11Km) of their training volume compared with 14% (25Km) in the LST group. The male HST group showed slight but statistically significant better performance. 10K race pace of 21.2 Km/h for HST and 20.8 Km/h for LST, Lactate Threshold pace of 20.2 Km/h for HST and 19.9 Km/h for LST, but Running Economy was better in LST (214 mL/Kg/Km in HST and 203 mL/Kg/Km in LST). However, there are many other variables that differ between the LST and HST group making meaningful conclusions on Tempo runs unreasonable.
 +
* A 1991 study of elite runners found that they spent little of their time training at lactate threshold, something that was then considered sub-optimal<ref name="Robinson-1991"/>. Note that this is in spite of the prevalent belief of coaches in the value of Lactate Threshold training.
 +
* A study of rowers before the world championship found they spent the majority of their time in the rowing equivalent of Long Slow Distance (<2 mmol/l) with 4-10% of [[High Intensity Interval Training]] (6-12 mmol/l) and no training at Lactate Threshold<ref name="Steinacker-1998"/>.
 +
* An analysis of the training of elite junior cross-country skiers found they spent 75% of their time at low intensity, 17% at high intensity, and only 8% around Lactate Threshold<ref name="Seiler-2006"/>. The study concluded "It appears that elite endurance athletes train surprisingly little at the lactate threshold intensity."
 +
* There is anecdotal evidence of two world class athletes that improved their performance after de-emphasizing threshold training<ref name="Seiler-2009"/>.
 
=Why Are Tempo Runs Ineffective?=
 
=Why Are Tempo Runs Ineffective?=
−
The science does not give us a clear answer as to why Tempo runs are relatively ineffective. My personal guess is that Tempo pace is still mostly aerobic, so it has similar benefits to running at a slow pace, but it can't be kept up so long. [[High Intensity Interval Training]] probably has dramatically different benefits to Tempo or [[Long Run| Long Slow Distance]].  
+
The improvements in Lactate Threshold pace are largely due to a greater rate of Lactate removal rather than reduced rate of production<ref name="Phillips-1995"/><ref name="MacRae-1992"/><ref name="Donovan-1989"/><ref name="Donovan-1983"/><ref name="Bergman-1999"/>. All muscle fibers release lactate at rest, but switch to net absorption as lactate levels rise<ref name="Donovan-2000"/>. There is some evidence that slow twitch (endurance) muscle fibers become net consumers of Lactate at lower concentrations, and absorb more Lactate at any given concentration than fast twitch fibers<ref name="Donovan-2000"/>. In addition, slow twitch fibers are better suited for Lactate oxidation than fast twitch<ref name="Gladden2000"/>, as well as having better Lactate Transport (in and out of the muscle)<ref name="Juel-1997"/>. It seems reasonable that low intensity exercise focuses more on slow twitch fibers, and is therefore more effective at improving Lactate Threshold than higher intensities. However, I have not located any research to support that hypothesis.  
 
=References=
 
=References=
 
<references>
 
<references>
 +
<ref name="Juel-1997">C. Juel, Lactate-proton cotransport in skeletal muscle., Physiol Rev, volume 77, issue 2, pages 321-58, Apr 1997, PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9114817 9114817]</ref>
 +
<ref name="Gladden2000">L. Bruce Gladden, Muscle as a consumer of lactate, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, volume 32, issue 4, 2000, pages 764–771, ISSN [http://www.worldcat.org/issn/0195-9131 0195-9131], doi [http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200004000-00008 10.1097/00005768-200004000-00008]</ref>
 +
<ref name="Phillips-1995">SM. Phillips, HJ. Green, MA. Tarnopolsky, SM. Grant, Increased clearance of lactate after short-term training in men., J Appl Physiol (1985), volume 79, issue 6, pages 1862-9, Dec 1995, PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8847245 8847245]</ref>
 +
<ref name="MacRae-1992">HS. MacRae, SC. Dennis, AN. Bosch, TD. Noakes, Effects of training on lactate production and removal during progressive exercise in humans., J Appl Physiol (1985), volume 72, issue 5, pages 1649-56, May 1992, PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1601768 1601768]</ref>
 +
<ref name="Donovan-1989">CM. Donovan, MJ. Pagliassotti, Endurance training enhances lactate clearance during hyperlactatemia., Am J Physiol, volume 257, issue 5 Pt 1, pages E782-9, Nov 1989, PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2512815 2512815]</ref>
 +
<ref name="Donovan-1983">CM. Donovan, GA. Brooks, Endurance training affects lactate clearance, not lactate production., Am J Physiol, volume 244, issue 1, pages E83-92, Jan 1983, PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6401405 6401405]</ref>
 +
<ref name="Bergman-1999">BC. Bergman, EE. Wolfel, GE. Butterfield, GD. Lopaschuk, GA. Casazza, MA. Horning, GA. Brooks, Active muscle and whole body lactate kinetics after endurance training in men., J Appl Physiol (1985), volume 87, issue 5, pages 1684-96, Nov 1999, PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10562610 10562610]</ref>
 +
<ref name="Seiler-2006">KS. Seiler, GØ. Kjerland, Quantifying training intensity distribution in elite endurance athletes: is there evidence for an "optimal" distribution?, Scand J Med Sci Sports, volume 16, issue 1, pages 49-56, Feb 2006, doi [http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2004.00418.x 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2004.00418.x], PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16430681 16430681]</ref>
 
<ref name="Higdon2005">author Hal Higdon, Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide, date 3 September 2005, publisher Rodale, isbn 978-1-59486-199-4, page 151</ref>
 
<ref name="Higdon2005">author Hal Higdon, Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide, date 3 September 2005, publisher Rodale, isbn 978-1-59486-199-4, page 151</ref>
 
<ref name="JackDaniels2015">Threshold Training, http://www.runnersworld.com/race-training/threshold-training, Accessed on 11 August 2015</ref>
 
<ref name="JackDaniels2015">Threshold Training, http://www.runnersworld.com/race-training/threshold-training, Accessed on 11 August 2015</ref>
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<ref name="StögglSperlich2014">Thomas Stöggl, Billy Sperlich, Polarized training has greater impact on key endurance variables than threshold, high intensity, or high volume training, Frontiers in Physiology, volume 5, 2014, ISSN [http://www.worldcat.org/issn/1664-042X 1664-042X], doi [http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2014.00033 10.3389/fphys.2014.00033]</ref>
 
<ref name="StögglSperlich2014">Thomas Stöggl, Billy Sperlich, Polarized training has greater impact on key endurance variables than threshold, high intensity, or high volume training, Frontiers in Physiology, volume 5, 2014, ISSN [http://www.worldcat.org/issn/1664-042X 1664-042X], doi [http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2014.00033 10.3389/fphys.2014.00033]</ref>
 
<ref name="Seiler-2010">S. Seiler, What is best practice for training intensity and duration distribution in endurance athletes?, Int J Sports Physiol Perform, volume 5, issue 3, pages 276-91, Sep 2010, PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20861519 20861519]</ref>
 
<ref name="Seiler-2010">S. Seiler, What is best practice for training intensity and duration distribution in endurance athletes?, Int J Sports Physiol Perform, volume 5, issue 3, pages 276-91, Sep 2010, PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20861519 20861519]</ref>
 +
<ref name="Robinson-1991">DM. Robinson, SM. Robinson, PA. Hume, WG. Hopkins, Training intensity of elite male distance runners., Med Sci Sports Exerc, volume 23, issue 9, pages 1078-82, Sep 1991, PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1943629 1943629]</ref>
 +
<ref name="Steinacker-1998">JM. Steinacker, W. Lormes, M. Lehmann, D. Altenburg, Training of rowers before world championships., Med Sci Sports Exerc, volume 30, issue 7, pages 1158-63, Jul 1998, PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9662689 9662689]</ref>
 +
<ref name="Esteve-Lanao-2007">J. Esteve-Lanao, C. Foster, S. Seiler, A. Lucia, Impact of training intensity distribution on performance in endurance athletes., J Strength Cond Res, volume 21, issue 3, pages 943-9, Aug 2007, doi [http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/R-19725.1 10.1519/R-19725.1], PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17685689 17685689]</ref>
 +
<ref name="Seiler-2009">Seiler, Stephen, and Espen Tønnessen. "Intervals, thresholds, and long slow distance: the role of intensity and duration in endurance training." Sportscience 13 (2009): 32-53.</ref>
 +
<ref name="Snyder-2009">AC. Snyder, MA. Parmenter, Using near-infrared spectroscopy to determine maximal steady state exercise intensity., J Strength Cond Res, volume 23, issue 6, pages 1833-40, Sep 2009, doi [http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181ad3362 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181ad3362], PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19675475 19675475]</ref>
 +
<ref name="Pringle-2002">JS. Pringle, AM. Jones, Maximal lactate steady state, critical power and EMG during cycling., Eur J Appl Physiol, volume 88, issue 3, pages 214-26, Dec 2002, doi [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00421-002-0703-4 10.1007/s00421-002-0703-4], PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12458364 12458364]</ref>
 +
<ref name="Jones-1998">AM. Jones, JH. Doust, The validity of the lactate minimum test for determination of the maximal lactate steady state., Med Sci Sports Exerc, volume 30, issue 8, pages 1304-13, Aug 1998, PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9710874 9710874]</ref>
 +
<ref name="Billat-2003">V. Billat, PM. Lepretre, AM. Heugas, MH. Laurence, D. Salim, JP. Koralsztein, Training and bioenergetic characteristics in elite male and female Kenyan runners., Med Sci Sports Exerc, volume 35, issue 2, pages 297-304; discussion 305-6, Feb 2003, doi [http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000053556.59992.A9 10.1249/01.MSS.0000053556.59992.A9], PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12569219 12569219]</ref>
 +
<ref name="Billat-2004">V. Billat, P. Sirvent, PM. Lepretre, JP. Koralsztein, Training effect on performance, substrate balance and blood lactate concentration at maximal lactate steady state in master endurance-runners., Pflugers Arch, volume 447, issue 6, pages 875-83, Mar 2004, doi [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00424-003-1215-8 10.1007/s00424-003-1215-8], PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14740217 14740217]</ref>
 +
<ref name="Helgerud-2007"> J. Helgerud, K. Høydal, E. Wang, T. Karlsen, P. Berg, M. Bjerkaas, T. Simonsen, C. Helgesen, N. Hjorth, Aerobic high-intensity intervals improve VO2max more than moderate training., Med Sci Sports Exerc, volume 39, issue 4, pages 665-71, Apr 2007, doi [http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/mss.0b013e3180304570 10.1249/mss.0b013e3180304570], PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17414804 17414804]</ref>
 +
<ref name="PhilpMacdonald2008">A. Philp, A. Macdonald, H. Carter, P. Watt, J. Pringle, Maximal Lactate Steady State as a Training Stimulus, International Journal of Sports Medicine, volume 29, issue 6, 2008, pages 475–479, ISSN [http://www.worldcat.org/issn/0172-4622 0172-4622], doi [http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-965320 10.1055/s-2007-965320]</ref>
 +
<ref name="Donovan-2000">CM. Donovan, MJ. Pagliassotti, Quantitative assessment of pathways for lactate disposal in skeletal muscle fiber types., Med Sci Sports Exerc, volume 32, issue 4, pages 772-7, Apr 2000, PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10776896 10776896]</ref>
 
</references>
 
</references>

Revision as of 06:07, 1 October 2015

A tempo run, sometimes called a threshold run, is a common part of many training programs as coaches believe it is an effective way of improving lactate clearance. However, the science indicates that tempo paced runs should be avoided in favor of other paces. Tempo pace represents the no man's land between Long Slow Distance and High Intensity Interval Training. They are too fast to be long, and too slow to be intense. They can improve performance in the untrained, but not as well as other types of training and so they are the least effective form of training. In fact, for highly trained runners there is evidence that Tempo Runs may actually be counterproductive. While there are claims that Tempo Runs have benefits for Mental fortitude this is not supported by the science that has looked at race performance.

1 What is a Tempo Run?

A Tempo Run intended to be run at or near the pace corresponding to the Lactate Threshold. Lactate Threshold can be thought of as the transition from mostly aerobic to mostly anaerobic metabolism. In well trained athletes, paces below the Lactate Threshold can be kept up for prolonged periods (several hours), where paces about the Lactate Threshold typically cannot be maintained for more than an hour.

2 The Tempo Myth

There is a prevalent myth that Tempo runs are an important part of a training program. The idea is that running at Lactate Threshold pace improves Lactate clearance and thus improves performance.

  • Jack Daniels, author of Jack Daniels Running Formula says "Threshold, or T-pace, running is one of the most productive types of training that distance runners can do"[1].
  • Hal Higdon in "Marathon The Ultimate Training Guide" says "Exercise scientists now tell us that doing tempo runs is the most efficient way to raise your lactate threshold - that is, your ability to run at a fast pace without accumulating lactic acid in the bloodstream"[2].
  • Matt Fitzgerald in his book "Run Faster" says "Threshold training is a major part of every running coach's training system", and that "Threshold runs … stimulate aerobic-system adaptations and other physiological changes that enable runners to sustain faster and faster running paces for longer and longer stretches of time"[3].
  • It's common for scientific research to propagate the myth of the tempo run, quoting other papers that don't substantiate the claims. For instance, a 2009 research study stated "One of the most valuable exercises athletes use for developing an aerobic base is maximal steady state exercise"[4]. This study then quotes three references to back up the statement:
    • The 2003 study of elite Kenyan is hard to interpret in terms of Tempo runs, though less time spent at Tempo pace was correlated with better race performance[5]. (See below for a more detailed analysis.)
    • A 1998 study only made vague mention of tempo runs, saying "These considerations lead us to reject the use of V-OBLA in the prescription of V-MLSS exercise training"[6].
    • A 2002 study of cyclists makes no mention of Lactate Threshold training at all[7].

3 The Science of Tempo Runs

The idea that training at threshold intensity is particularly effective has no evidence[8]. However, this is not the same as saying that tempo runs are not effective at all, just that they are not more effective than other forms of training.

3.1 Evidence in Favor of Tempo Runs

  • Tempo runs can improve performance in untrained subjects[9][10][11]. However these studies did not compare how effective tempo runs are over other forms of training.
  • A study of 9 experienced recreational masters runners showed a dramatic improvement (50%) in time to exhaustion at Lactate Threshold after interval training at Lactate Threshold pace[12]. The runners had an average half marathon time of 83 minutes (+/-5), but had never performed any form of speedwork. Their average training before the study was five runs per week for an average of 65 minutes at 12.4 KPH (7:36 min/mile). The study lasted for 6 weeks, with 2 tempo paced interval sessions replacing 2 of the slower paced runs per week. One session was 3 intervals of 10 minutes each, the second 2 intervals of 15 minutes. Each week the shorter and longer intervals were lengthened by 2 and 3 minutes respectively. After training V̇O2max increased 3.6% and Velocity at Lactate Threshold increased 4.2% (13.8 to 15.2 KPH, or 7:00 to 6:21). More impressively, the time to exhaustion at Lactate Threshold pace increased by a massive 50% from an average of 44 minutes before to 63 minutes after training. Unfortunately the study did not include any form of controls to know how much familiarity with the testing procedure influenced the results, nor was there any comparison with other forms of training such as High Intensity Interval Training.
  • Four weeks of tempo training increased V̇O2max by 10% in moderately trained runners[13]. The only control was performing interval training just above or just below tempo pace, which resulted in a smaller (6%) improvement.

3.2 Evidence Against Tempo Runs

  • In recreational 10K runners, there is not as much improvement from training at Lactate Threshold as from polarized (low/high) training[14].
  • Training at Tempo paces is ineffective for trained athletes[11], and may even be counterproductive[15][16].
  • Moderately trained subjects trained for 3 days/week for 8 weeks using either Short HIIT, Long HIIT, Tempo runs, or LSD[17]. V̇O2max was unchanged in the tempo and LSD groups, but increased 7.2% in the Short HIIT and 5.5% in the Long HIIT groups.
  • Training at lower intensity (blood lactate < 2 mmol/l) is more effective at improving performance at the Lactate Threshold than training at the Lactate Threshold (3-6 mmol/l)[16].
  • A 2007 randomly assigned 12 sub-elite 5K & cross country runners to one of two training programs[18]. The Z1 program had 80% LSD, 10% Tempo, and 10% HIIT, whereas the Z2 program had 65% LSD, 25% Tempo, and 10% HIIT. The Z1 group that did less time at Tempo pace improved their race performance more than the Z2 group. (Their simulated 10K times improved 35 seconds more, 157 second improvement rather than 121 second improvement.)
  • A 2009 review of the science of training intensity noted that recreational runners typically fall into a "black hole" of too much Lactate Threshold running[19]. They noted "Training intended to be longer and slower becomes too fast and shorter in duration, and interval training fails to reach the desired intensity. The result is that most training sessions end up being performed at the same threshold intensity."
  • The performance of elite 5k/10K runners is related to total time spent in low intensity training, not higher intensities[20].
  • Polarized training has been shown to be more effective than high volume/low intensity, threshold/tempo, or High Intensity Interval Training[21]. The polarized training used two High Intensity Interval Training and two long (150-240 minute) low intensity sessions.
  • It has been observed that elite athletes exercise 80% of the time at low intensity (blood lactate < 2 mmol/l) and 20% of the time at Lactate Threshold or High Intensity Interval Training[22]. (Sadly this study did not have any breakdown between Lactate Threshold or High Intensity Interval Training.)
  • A study of 20 elite Kenyan runners produced rather unclear results[5]. The study categorized the runners as either high-speed training (HST) or low-speed training (LST). The 7 women did no tempo runs, and the men in the HST group used tempo runs for an average of 7% (11Km) of their training volume compared with 14% (25Km) in the LST group. The male HST group showed slight but statistically significant better performance. 10K race pace of 21.2 Km/h for HST and 20.8 Km/h for LST, Lactate Threshold pace of 20.2 Km/h for HST and 19.9 Km/h for LST, but Running Economy was better in LST (214 mL/Kg/Km in HST and 203 mL/Kg/Km in LST). However, there are many other variables that differ between the LST and HST group making meaningful conclusions on Tempo runs unreasonable.
  • A 1991 study of elite runners found that they spent little of their time training at lactate threshold, something that was then considered sub-optimal[23]. Note that this is in spite of the prevalent belief of coaches in the value of Lactate Threshold training.
  • A study of rowers before the world championship found they spent the majority of their time in the rowing equivalent of Long Slow Distance (<2 mmol/l) with 4-10% of High Intensity Interval Training (6-12 mmol/l) and no training at Lactate Threshold[24].
  • An analysis of the training of elite junior cross-country skiers found they spent 75% of their time at low intensity, 17% at high intensity, and only 8% around Lactate Threshold[25]. The study concluded "It appears that elite endurance athletes train surprisingly little at the lactate threshold intensity."
  • There is anecdotal evidence of two world class athletes that improved their performance after de-emphasizing threshold training[19].

4 Why Are Tempo Runs Ineffective?

The improvements in Lactate Threshold pace are largely due to a greater rate of Lactate removal rather than reduced rate of production[26][27][28][29][30]. All muscle fibers release lactate at rest, but switch to net absorption as lactate levels rise[31]. There is some evidence that slow twitch (endurance) muscle fibers become net consumers of Lactate at lower concentrations, and absorb more Lactate at any given concentration than fast twitch fibers[31]. In addition, slow twitch fibers are better suited for Lactate oxidation than fast twitch[32], as well as having better Lactate Transport (in and out of the muscle)[33]. It seems reasonable that low intensity exercise focuses more on slow twitch fibers, and is therefore more effective at improving Lactate Threshold than higher intensities. However, I have not located any research to support that hypothesis.

5 References

  1. ↑ Threshold Training, http://www.runnersworld.com/race-training/threshold-training, Accessed on 11 August 2015
  2. ↑ author Hal Higdon, Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide, date 3 September 2005, publisher Rodale, isbn 978-1-59486-199-4, page 151
  3. ↑ First Author Brad Hudson, Second Author Matt Fitzgerald, Run Faster from the 5K to the Marathon: How to Be Your Own Best Coach, date 29 July 2008, publisher Crown/Archetype, isbn 978-0-7679-3020-8, page 57
  4. ↑ AC. Snyder, MA. Parmenter, Using near-infrared spectroscopy to determine maximal steady state exercise intensity., J Strength Cond Res, volume 23, issue 6, pages 1833-40, Sep 2009, doi 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181ad3362, PMID 19675475
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 V. Billat, PM. Lepretre, AM. Heugas, MH. Laurence, D. Salim, JP. Koralsztein, Training and bioenergetic characteristics in elite male and female Kenyan runners., Med Sci Sports Exerc, volume 35, issue 2, pages 297-304; discussion 305-6, Feb 2003, doi 10.1249/01.MSS.0000053556.59992.A9, PMID 12569219
  6. ↑ AM. Jones, JH. Doust, The validity of the lactate minimum test for determination of the maximal lactate steady state., Med Sci Sports Exerc, volume 30, issue 8, pages 1304-13, Aug 1998, PMID 9710874
  7. ↑ JS. Pringle, AM. Jones, Maximal lactate steady state, critical power and EMG during cycling., Eur J Appl Physiol, volume 88, issue 3, pages 214-26, Dec 2002, doi 10.1007/s00421-002-0703-4, PMID 12458364
  8. ↑ R. Beneke, RM. Leithäuser, O. Ochentel, Blood lactate diagnostics in exercise testing and training., Int J Sports Physiol Perform, volume 6, issue 1, pages 8-24, Mar 2011, PMID 21487146
  9. ↑ C. Denis, R. Fouquet, P. Poty, A. Geyssant, JR. Lacour, Effect of 40 weeks of endurance training on the anaerobic threshold., Int J Sports Med, volume 3, issue 4, pages 208-14, Nov 1982, doi 10.1055/s-2008-1026089, PMID 7152767
  10. ↑ C. Denis, D. Dormois, JR. Lacour, Endurance training, VO2 max, and OBLA: a longitudinal study of two different age groups., Int J Sports Med, volume 5, issue 4, pages 167-73, Aug 1984, doi 10.1055/s-2008-1025899, PMID 6480199
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 BR. Londeree, Effect of training on lactate/ventilatory thresholds: a meta-analysis., Med Sci Sports Exerc, volume 29, issue 6, pages 837-43, Jun 1997, PMID 9219214
  12. ↑ V. Billat, P. Sirvent, PM. Lepretre, JP. Koralsztein, Training effect on performance, substrate balance and blood lactate concentration at maximal lactate steady state in master endurance-runners., Pflugers Arch, volume 447, issue 6, pages 875-83, Mar 2004, doi 10.1007/s00424-003-1215-8, PMID 14740217
  13. ↑ A. Philp, A. Macdonald, H. Carter, P. Watt, J. Pringle, Maximal Lactate Steady State as a Training Stimulus, International Journal of Sports Medicine, volume 29, issue 6, 2008, pages 475–479, ISSN 0172-4622, doi 10.1055/s-2007-965320
  14. ↑ I. Muñoz, S. Seiler, J. Bautista, J. España, E. Larumbe, J. Esteve-Lanao, Does polarized training improve performance in recreational runners?, Int J Sports Physiol Perform, volume 9, issue 2, pages 265-72, Mar 2014, doi 10.1123/ijspp.2012-0350, PMID 23752040
  15. ↑ F. Evertsen, JI. Medbø, A. Bonen, Effect of training intensity on muscle lactate transporters and lactate threshold of cross-country skiers., Acta Physiol Scand, volume 173, issue 2, pages 195-205, Oct 2001, doi 10.1046/j.1365-201X.2001.00871.x, PMID 11683677
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 A. Guellich, S. Seiler, Lactate profile changes in relation to training characteristics in junior elite cyclists., Int J Sports Physiol Perform, volume 5, issue 3, pages 316-27, Sep 2010, PMID 20861522
  17. ↑ J. Helgerud, K. Høydal, E. Wang, T. Karlsen, P. Berg, M. Bjerkaas, T. Simonsen, C. Helgesen, N. Hjorth, Aerobic high-intensity intervals improve VO2max more than moderate training., Med Sci Sports Exerc, volume 39, issue 4, pages 665-71, Apr 2007, doi 10.1249/mss.0b013e3180304570, PMID 17414804
  18. ↑ J. Esteve-Lanao, C. Foster, S. Seiler, A. Lucia, Impact of training intensity distribution on performance in endurance athletes., J Strength Cond Res, volume 21, issue 3, pages 943-9, Aug 2007, doi 10.1519/R-19725.1, PMID 17685689
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Seiler, Stephen, and Espen Tønnessen. "Intervals, thresholds, and long slow distance: the role of intensity and duration in endurance training." Sportscience 13 (2009): 32-53.
  20. ↑ J. Esteve-Lanao, AF. San Juan, CP. Earnest, C. Foster, A. Lucia, How do endurance runners actually train? Relationship with competition performance., Med Sci Sports Exerc, volume 37, issue 3, pages 496-504, Mar 2005, PMID 15741850
  21. ↑ Thomas Stöggl, Billy Sperlich, Polarized training has greater impact on key endurance variables than threshold, high intensity, or high volume training, Frontiers in Physiology, volume 5, 2014, ISSN 1664-042X, doi 10.3389/fphys.2014.00033
  22. ↑ S. Seiler, What is best practice for training intensity and duration distribution in endurance athletes?, Int J Sports Physiol Perform, volume 5, issue 3, pages 276-91, Sep 2010, PMID 20861519
  23. ↑ DM. Robinson, SM. Robinson, PA. Hume, WG. Hopkins, Training intensity of elite male distance runners., Med Sci Sports Exerc, volume 23, issue 9, pages 1078-82, Sep 1991, PMID 1943629
  24. ↑ JM. Steinacker, W. Lormes, M. Lehmann, D. Altenburg, Training of rowers before world championships., Med Sci Sports Exerc, volume 30, issue 7, pages 1158-63, Jul 1998, PMID 9662689
  25. ↑ KS. Seiler, GØ. Kjerland, Quantifying training intensity distribution in elite endurance athletes: is there evidence for an "optimal" distribution?, Scand J Med Sci Sports, volume 16, issue 1, pages 49-56, Feb 2006, doi 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2004.00418.x, PMID 16430681
  26. ↑ SM. Phillips, HJ. Green, MA. Tarnopolsky, SM. Grant, Increased clearance of lactate after short-term training in men., J Appl Physiol (1985), volume 79, issue 6, pages 1862-9, Dec 1995, PMID 8847245
  27. ↑ HS. MacRae, SC. Dennis, AN. Bosch, TD. Noakes, Effects of training on lactate production and removal during progressive exercise in humans., J Appl Physiol (1985), volume 72, issue 5, pages 1649-56, May 1992, PMID 1601768
  28. ↑ CM. Donovan, MJ. Pagliassotti, Endurance training enhances lactate clearance during hyperlactatemia., Am J Physiol, volume 257, issue 5 Pt 1, pages E782-9, Nov 1989, PMID 2512815
  29. ↑ CM. Donovan, GA. Brooks, Endurance training affects lactate clearance, not lactate production., Am J Physiol, volume 244, issue 1, pages E83-92, Jan 1983, PMID 6401405
  30. ↑ BC. Bergman, EE. Wolfel, GE. Butterfield, GD. Lopaschuk, GA. Casazza, MA. Horning, GA. Brooks, Active muscle and whole body lactate kinetics after endurance training in men., J Appl Physiol (1985), volume 87, issue 5, pages 1684-96, Nov 1999, PMID 10562610
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 CM. Donovan, MJ. Pagliassotti, Quantitative assessment of pathways for lactate disposal in skeletal muscle fiber types., Med Sci Sports Exerc, volume 32, issue 4, pages 772-7, Apr 2000, PMID 10776896
  32. ↑ L. Bruce Gladden, Muscle as a consumer of lactate, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, volume 32, issue 4, 2000, pages 764–771, ISSN 0195-9131, doi 10.1097/00005768-200004000-00008
  33. ↑ C. Juel, Lactate-proton cotransport in skeletal muscle., Physiol Rev, volume 77, issue 2, pages 321-58, Apr 1997, PMID 9114817
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