Splitting the distance of endurance running : On cardiovascular endurance and blood lipids

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine if splitting the distance of endurance running is as effective as continuous endurance running of the same total distance for changing cardiovascular function and blood lipids. Fifty-three untrained male students (x age = 21 yrs) were divided into four groups. All the subjects in exercise groups ran the same distance each day three days a week. Group A ran the entire distance in one training session daily. Group B ran one-half of the distance in two training sessions daily. Group C ran one-third of the distance in three training sessions daily. Group D was to serve as a control and was instructed to engage in no special physical activity during the study. The ten week endurance training program was supervised. Training intensities were 80 percent of each subject's maximal heart rate (max HR). This study resulted in the following conclusion: so long as individuals run the same distance with identical intensities and frequencies (considered to be a frequency although the running distance was split in a day on Groups B and C), assuming the minimum duration of the split session is sufficient to provoke the development in cardiovascular endurance, the effectiveness on cardiovascular function and blood lipids was not statistically different among groups even though the running distance was split. This study was supported by a research grant from Brigham Young University, U.S.A. and by a Deseret Gym Foundation Grant, U.S.A.