UNACCUSTOMED HIGH MILEAGE COMPARED TO INTENSITY TRAINING-RELATED NEUROMUSCULAR EXCITABILITY IN DISTANCE RUNNERS

The influence of a 4-week unaccustomed average 103% mileage increase ( ITV, increase in training volume; n = 8; average baseline mileage 85.9 km . week(-1), final mileage 174,6km . week(-1)) on performance and n euromuscular excitability (NME) was tested in experienced distance run ners and controlled 1 year later by a 4-week unaccustomed average 152% increase in tempo-pace and interval-runs (ITI, increase in training i ntensity; n = 9; baseline 9 km . week(-1), final 22.7 km . week(-1)) w ith an average total mileage of 61.7km . week(-1) (week 1) to 84.7 km . week(-1) (week 4). Seven athletes participated in ITV as well as in ITI. During incremental treadmill test performance at a lactate concen tration of 2 mmol . l(-1) (2 LP) increased, and at 4 mmol . l(-1) (4 L P) performance did not change, whereas total running distance (TD) dur ing the incremental test decreased in ITV compared to an increase in 2 LP, 4 LP and TD during ITI which may indicate that there was an ITV-r elated overtraining. The NME of the reference muscles vastus medialis and rectus femoris deteriorated in ITV (day 28 compared to 0) compared to constant values during ITI, reflecting an ITV-related overload of neuromuscular structures.