OVERTRAINING FOLLOWING INTENSIFIED TRAINING WITH NORMAL MUSCLE GLYCOGEN

The purpose of this study was to determine if consumption of appropria te amounts of carbohydrate during a period of increased exercise train ing would protect the athletes from becoming overtrained. Eight male c ompetitive cyclists were monitored and tested during three training pe riods: a) normal training (moderate intensity, long duration, 7 d, NOR M); b) overtraining (high intensity training, 15 d, OVER); and c) reco very (minimal training, 6 d, REC). Throughout the training 160 g of li quid carbohydrate were consumed within the first 2 h after the daily e xercise bout. Mean dietary intake (NORM = 13.7 +/- 1.6, OVER = 14.1 +/ - 1.0 MJ . d(-1)) and carbohydrate percent (NORM = 64.0 +/- 2.1, OVER = 67.4 +/- 2.5%) were not different during the different training peri ods. Similarly, resting muscle glycogen levels were not different (NOR M = 530.9 +/- 42.5, OVER = 571.2 +/- 27.5 mu mol . g(-1) dry weight). Five criteria were used to determine if overtraining occurred in a sub ject (decreased maximal workload, maximal heart rate, ratio of maximal lactate to rating of perceived exertion (HLa:RPE), and resting plasma cortisol levels, increased affirmative response to a daily questionna ire). All subjects met at least three of the five criteria and thus we re classified as overtrained. Therefore, short-term overtraining may o ccur even when resting muscle glycogen levels are maintained.