INDEXES OF TRAINING STRESS DURING COMPETITIVE RUNNING AND SWIMMING SEASONS

Eight male cross-country runners and five male swimmers were tested fo ur times during their collegiate seasons. Each trial corresponded to a different training load. The runners' trials were conducted before th e start of organized practice (RT1), after 3 wk of increased training (RT2), 3 wk prior to the conference championship (pre-taper, RT3), and 4d after the conference championship (post-taper RT4). The swimmers' trials were conducted after the first 9 wk of training (ST1), after co mpleting 2 wk of hard training (ST2), after an additional 6 wk of trai ning (pre-taper, ST3) and during a week following the conference champ ionship (post-taper, ST4). Venous blood samples, heart rate (HR) and b lood pressure (BP) were obtained after 15 min supine rest (0700 h). Se rum was analyzed for cortisol (C), total testosterone (TT), free testo sterone (FT), and creatine kinase (CK). Blood samples (lactate), HR an d RPE were obtained during a fixed velocity run (75 % preseason VO(2)m ax) and blood samples and RPE following a 365.8m swim (90% preseason V O(2)max). The runners then completed a ''performance run'' to exhausti on (110 % preseason VO(2)max) and the swimmers completed maximal 22.9 and 365.8m swims. Serum CK, C, TT,FT, and the TT:C and FT:C ratios wer e not significantly different among trials for the runners. Serum TT a nd FT were significantly (P<0.05) lower for the swimmers at ST2 (TT 16 .7 +/- 2.5; FT 85.3 +/- 8.5) compared to ST1 (TT 30.3 +/- 2.8; FT 130. 2 +/- 20.9) whereas, C, TT:C or FT:C were not significantly altered. S erum CK was significantly elevated for swimmers at ST2 (135.3 +/- 20.9 ) and ST3 (101.7 +/- 16.7) compared to ST1 (54.12 +/- 8.2). Performanc e capacity in 365.8m and 232.9 m swims was significantly reduced at ST 2 and returned to preseason times at ST4. Resting HR and BP were not s ignificantly altered for either swimmers or runners. In conclusion, C, FT:C and TT:C were not influenced by changes in training volume/inten sity in swimmers or in runners. Serum TT and FT were significantly red uced and CK significantly elevated when training was substantially inc reased for a short time period for the swimmers (ST2). Changes in TT, FT, and CK were concomitant with decreased performance and increased g lobal mood state. Furthermore, TT and FT were increased, and CK decrea sed when swim training volume was reduced (ST4). Therefore, TT, FT and CK may be effective markers for monitoring overtraining in athletes.