Purpose:To quantify the relationship between total training load and running performance during the most important competitions of the season (national cross-country championships, 4.175- and 10.130-km races).Methods:Eight well-trained, subelite endurance runners (age (mean ± SD): 23 ± 2 yr;

Despite their young age, limited training history, and lack of running tradition compared with other East African endurance athletes (e.g., Kenyans and Ethiopians), male endurance runners from Eritrea have recently attained important running successes. The purposes of our study were (i) to document the main physical and physiological characteristics of elite black Eritrean distance runners (n = 7; age: 22 ± 3 years) and (ii) to compare them with those of their elite white Spanish counterparts. For this second purpose we selected a control group of elite Spanish runners (n = 9; 24 ± 2 years), owing to the traditionally high success of Spanish athletes in long-distance running compared with other white runners, especially in cross-country competitions. The subjects’ main anthropometric characteristics were determined, together with their maximum oxygen uptake (VO_{2 max}) and VO₂(mL·kg^–1·min^–1), blood lactate, and ammonia concentrations while running at 17, 19, or 21 km·h^–1. The body mass index (18.9 ± 1.5 kg·m^–2) and maximal calf circumference (30.9 ± 1.5 cm) was lower in Eritreans than in Spaniards (20.5 ± 1.7 kg·m^–2and 33.9 ± 2.0 cm, respectively) (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively) and their lower leg (shank) length was longer (44.1 ± 3.0 cm vs. 40.6 ± 2.7 cm, respectively) (p < 0.05). VO_{2 max}did not differ significantly between Eritreans and Spaniards (73.8 ± 5.6 mL·kg^–1·min^–1vs. 77.8 ± 5.7 mL·kg^–1·min^–1, respectively), whereas the VO₂cost of running was lower (p < 0.01) in the former (e.g., 65.9 ± 6.8 mL·kg^–1·min^–1vs. 74.8 ± 5.0 mL·kg^–1·min^–1when running at 21 km·h^–1). Our data suggest that the excellent running economy of Eritreans is associated, at least partly, with anthropometric variables. Comparison of their submaximal running cost with other published data suggests that superior running economy, rather than enhanced aerobic capacity, may be the common denominator in the success of black endurance runners of East African origin.

The purpose was to investigate the effect of a 16-wk intrahospital supervised conditioning program including both resistance and aerobic training and a 20-wk detraining period on measures of aerobic fitness, muscular strength, functional mobility, ankle range of motion, and quality of life (QOL) in children receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Seven children (four boys, three girls; age: 5.1 ± 1.2 yr, body mass: 24.0 ± 5.8 kg, height: 114.6 ± 7.7 cm) in the maintenance phase of treatment against ALL performed three sessions per week for 16 wk of resistance (one set of 8-15 repetitions of 11 exercises) and aerobic training (30 min at > 70% HRmax) followed by 20 wk of detraining where no structured exercise program was performed. Before training, after training, and after detraining, a treadmill test determining V˙O2peak and ventilator threshold (VT), muscular strength (6RM), functional mobility (timed up and down stairs test, time up and go 3-m and 10-m tests), passive and dynamic ankle range of motion, and self-reported quality of living were determined. After training, significant increases in V˙O2peak, VT, upper- and lower-body muscular strength, and all measures of functional mobility were shown (P < 0.05). Muscular strength was well maintained (significantly greater than before training and no significant decrease from after training) during detraining, whereas V˙O2peak, VT, and functional mobility (not significantly different from before training but no significant decrease from after training) were only partially retained. Young children in the maintenance phase of treatment against ALL can safely perform both aerobic and resistance training. Training results in significant increases in measures of aerobic fitness, strength, and functional mobility. During detraining, strength and functional mobility are well maintained, whereas V˙O2peak and VT are partially maintained.

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effects of a combined cardiorespiratory and resistance exercise training program of short duration on the cardiorespiratory fitness, strength endurance, task specific functional muscle capacity, body composition and quality of life (QOL) in women breast cancer survivors. Sixteen subjects were randomly assigned to either a training (n = 8; age: 50 ± 5 yrs) or control non-exercising group (n = 8; age: 51 ± 10 yrs). The training group followed an 8-week exercise program consisting of 3 weekly sessions of 90-min duration, supervised by an experienced investigator and divided into resistance exercises and aerobic training. Before and after the intervention period, all of the subjects performed a cardiorespiratory test to measure peak oxygen uptake (V·O_2peak), a dynamic strength endurance test (maximum number of repetitions for chest and leg press exercise at 30 - 35 % and 100 - 110 % of body mass, respectively) and a sit-stand test. Quality of life was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 (EORTC-C30) questionnaire. In response to training, QOL, V·O_2peak (mean 3.9 ml/kg/min; 95 % CI, 0.93, 6.90) performance in leg press (17.9 kg; 95 % CI, 12.8, 22.4) and sit-stand test (- 0.67 s; 95 % CI, - 0.52, - 1.2) improved (p ≤ 0.05). We observed no significant changes in the control group. Combined cardiorespiratory and resistance training, even of very brief duration, improves the QOL and the overall physical fitness of women breast cancer survivors.

Animal and human data indicate a role for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α ( PPARGC1A) gene product in the development of maximal oxygen uptake (V̇o_{2 max}), a determinant of endurance capacity, diabetes, and early death. We tested the hypothesis that the frequency of the minor Ser482 allele at the PPARGC1A locus is lower in World-class Spanish male endurance athletes (cases) [ n = 104; mean (SD) age: 26.8 (3.8) yr] than in unfit United Kingdom (UK) Caucasian male controls [ n = 100; mean (SD) age: 49.3 (8.1) yr]. In cases and controls, the Gly482Ser genotype met Hardy-Weinberg expectations ( P > 0.05 in both groups tested separately). Cases had significantly higher V̇o_{2 max}[73.4 (5.7) vs. 29.4 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹(3.8); P < 0.0001] and were leaner [body mass index: 20.6 (1.5) vs. 27.6 kg/m²(3.9); P < 0.0001] than controls. In unadjusted χ²analyses, the frequency of the minor Ser482 allele was significantly lower in cases than in controls (29.1 vs. 40.0%; P = 0.01). To assess the possibility that genetic stratification could confound these observations, we also compared Gly482Ser genotype frequencies in Spanish ( n = 164) and UK Caucasian men ( n = 381) who were unselected for their level of fitness. In these analyses, Ser482 allele frequencies were very similar (36.9% in Spanish vs. 37.5% in UK Caucasians, P = 0.83), suggesting that confounding by genetic stratification is unlikely to explain the association between Gly482Ser genotype and endurance capacity. In summary, our data indicate a role for the Gly482Ser genotype in determining aerobic fitness. This finding has relevance from the perspective of physical performance, but it may also be informative for the targeted prevention of diseases associated with low fitness such as Type 2 diabetes.

The purpose of this study was to determine if an eight-week intrahospital supervised, conditioning program improves functional capacity and quality of life (QOL) in children (4 boys, 4 girls) (mean [SD] age: 10.9 [2.8] years [range: 8 - 16]) who have undergone bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for leukemia treatment within the last 12 months. A group of 8 age and gender-matched healthy children served as controls. The experimental group performed 3 weekly sessions of resistance and aerobic training inside an intra-hospital gymnasium. A significant combined effect of group and time (p < 0.05) was observed for muscle functional capacity (Timed Up and Down Stairs [TUDS] test) and peak oxygen uptake (V·O_2peak), i.e., with BMT children showing greater improvements than controls (V·O_2peak at pre- and post-training of 25.9 (8.2) and 31.1 (7.6) mL/kg/min in diseased children). Muscle strength (6 RM test for bench and leg press and seated row) also improved after training (p < 0.05) in the BMT group. Concerning QOL, a significant combined effect of group and time (p < 0.05) was also observed for children's self-report of comfort and resilience and for parents' report of their children's satisfaction and achievement. In summary, children who have received BMT experience physical and overall health benefits after a relatively short-term (8 weeks) supervised exercise training program.