Abstract
The present study was designed to evaluate the relationship between training and condition indices (running distance, session RPE [sRPE], visual analog scale [VAS] of exercise load, general condition, and hours of sleep) over a 16-week period and running performances (mean: 14:55.50±34.37) achieved during the same period in 19 collegiate trained male distance runners. There results indicated that (1) running distance during 16 weeks was related to running performance, (2) higher exercise loads expressed as VAS were related to an increase of 5000-m running performance from the previous season, (3) the duration of moderate-intensity exercise was related to the increase of performance, (4) hours of sleep per day were related to performance, and (5) sRPE was related to general condition expressed as VAS. These results suggest that training/conditioning indices such as daily running distance sRPE and VAS data are useful for evaluation of training and improvement of running performance in long-distance runners. Moreover, it is suggested that an appropriate amount of sleep has a positive influence on running records.
