University of Nebraska at Omaha DigitalCommons@UNO Student Work 4-1997 The Relationship of Training Methods Between NCAA Division I Cross-Country Runners with 10,000 Meter Performance Max J. Kurz Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/studentwork Part of the Health and Physical Education Commons THE RELATIONSHIP OF TRAINING METHODS BETWEEN NCAA DIVISION I CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNERS WITH 10,000 METER PERFORMANCE A Thesis Presented to the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and the Faculty of the Graduate College University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science University of Nebraska at Omaha by Max J. Kurz April, 1997 UMI Number: EP73245 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Dissertation Publishing UMI EP73245 Published by ProQuest LLC (2015). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProGuesC ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 i THESIS ACCEPTANCE Acceptance for the faculty of the Graduate College, University of Nebraska, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Science, University of Nebraska at Omaha. / Committee Name Department/School L Narm Department/School Chairperson Date Acknowledgements This thesis began during the winter months when Dr. Berg and I went on a training run to get our blood flowing and increase our catecholamine levels. How interesting it is that many of our research ideas actually evolve on the running trail. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Berg for all the effort in reading and critiquing my work. You are a remarkable person and a researcher who has influenced my ideas on running forever. Let us continue to make a difference in the running population. I would also like to extend a tremendous amount of appreciation to the rest of my committee members, Dr. Latin and Dr. deGraw. Further thanks is extended to the UNO faculty who supported my research efforts in the Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics Laboratory. I would especially like to thank Dr. Nick Stergiou and Dr. Dan Blanke. Both of you have put in a tremendous amount of effort to shape me into a distinguished student and rapidly developing researcher. I will be forever grateful that you have helped me to chose biomechanics as my vocation. I would also like to thank my wife, Sara, for the support when I was developing and finishing my thesis. Without your support I would not be able to continue to strive to be the best researcher on distance running. This manuscript is dedicated to my mother and father, Jan and Max Sr., who have instilled in me all of their values and goals about life. Abstract The scientific relationship between 10,000 meter performance and training methods of distance runners remains incompletely understood. Researchers such as Slovic (1977) and Pollock (1978) have attempted to study the relationship between training practices of distance runners with the use of surveys. However, these studies did not analyze the significance of various types of training regimens available. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the training methods of NCAA Division I runners and 10,000 meter performance. Fourteen Division I qualifying teams of the NCAA Division I national cross-country meet and 16 randomly chosen non-qualifying teams were recruited through the mail and direct contact. The respondents completed a survey which evaluated the training methods of the respective teams during the transition phase, competition phase, and peaking period which encompassed seven months of training. In the transition phase the non-qualifying teams ran significantly farther (p<0.05) on their long runs than the qualifying teams. The qualifying teams ran more miles during the competition phase than the non-qualifiers (p<0.05). No significant differences (p>0.05) differences were noted between the qualifying and non-qualifying teams during the peaking period. No significant differences (p>0.05) were noted between the lower seven and top seven qualifying teams during the transition phase. However, during the competition phase the lower seven teams used intervals, fartleks, and repetitions more frequently (p<0.05) than the top seven qualifiers. Fartlek training during the peaking period was used more more often (p<0.05) for the top seven teams than the lower seven qualifying teams. A Pearson correlation was performed to find correlations between final team time in the 10,000 meter run and various training indices obtained from the survey. Based on the results from this study, it was concluded that tempos, repetitions, intervals, and fartlek training during the transition phase were significantly (p<0.05) and positively related to team 10,000 meter performance. Interval training and fartlek during the competition phase were significantly (p<0.05) and positively related to team 10,000 meter performance. Tempo training during the peaking iv period was significantly (p<0.05) and negatively related to team 10,000 meter performance. The training variables were further correlated with team rank at the Division I national cross­ country meet. Assessment of success based on order provided further insight on the training requisites for ultimate performance. Teams that ranked lower at the national cross-country meet practiced twice a day more often, and used fartlek training more frequently during the transition phase. For the competition phase, lower ranked teams used interval training and fartlek more often. Higher ranked teams used interval training more often during the peaking phase. From this study’s findings several recommendations were made concerning future research. Future studies should attempt to analyze differences that may exist between American and international training methods. A comparison of the training methods of the various collegiate divisions is needed to determine if similar training methods exist. Further research is needed on repetition, tempo, fartlek, and hill training to determine the physiological benefits that may be gained by using these training methods to peak an athlete. Further long term studies of the training of distance runners are needed. V TABLE OF CONTENTS THESIS ACCEPTANCE........................................................................................................ i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................. ............... .....................ii ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................................iii TABLE OF CONTENTS............... .................................. .................................................... v TABLE OF TABLES..............................................................................................................vii TABLE OF FIGURES......................................................... viii Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION.................................................... ................................... ..............1 II. THE PROBLEM................................................................................................ ....... 5 Purpose of the study, 5 Hypotheses, 5 Delimitations, 6 Limitations, 6 Definition of terms, 7 Significance of study, 8 III. REVIEW OF LITERATURE.................................................................... ..................10 Predictor Variables, 10 Biological Principles of Training, 12 Periodization, 13 Summary, 21 IV. PROCEDURES.................................... .....................................................................25 Subjects, 25 Experimental Design, 25 Data Collection, 26 Statistical Analysis, 26 V. Results .......................................................................................................................28 VI. Discussion ..................................................................................................................43 VII. Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations ............................................52 REFERENCES....................................................................................................................... 57 Appendix A.............. :................................. 61 Appendix 0......... 63 vii TABLE OF TABLES Table Page I Top ten American 10,000 meter performances ..................................................... .......... 3 H Top ten Kenyan 10,000 meter performances ................................................................... 4 III Transition phase training methods of NCAA Division I cross-country runners ................28 IV Competition phase training methods of NCAA Division I cross-country runner ..............29 V Peaking period training methods of NCAA Division I cross-country runners .................. 30 VI Differences intraining methods of the qualifiers and non-qualifiers during the transition and competition phases (M + SD) ................................................ 31 VII Differences in the various training methods during the competition phase of the top seven and lower seven