Effect of subjective intensity on objective performance in roller ski training

<p>    This study investigated how subjective intensity affects objective performance in roller ski training. Fifteen male cross-country university student-athletes performed double-poling on a 500-m flat track with specialized roller skis. Vertical jump and drop jump were performed as the target trials. The subjects performed each double-poling at five levels of subjective intensity 100％ (maximum effort), 90％, 80％, 70％, and 60％ in random trials. The results are summarized as follows: <BR>(1) Regarding the correspondence between the subjective intensity and objective performance, it was found that the higher gliding speed, the larger cycle-length, and under the condition that the subjective intensity was low, the shorter time, the higher cycle-rate. <BR>(2) It was clarified that the grading of roller skis, vertical and drop jumps is similar to cycle-rate. <BR>(3) Maximum gliding speed appeared when the subjective intensity was 90％ (“reaching the limit”). Peak performance was reached at subjective intensities of 90％ and 100％. <BR>(4) It became clear that objective performance tended to be excessive with respect to the goal of subjective intensity. The tendency was notable at low effort levels and tended to decrease as subjective intensity levels increased. <BR>    These results suggest that grading of the double-poling, we will introduce technical training that gradually increases while maintaining the “appropriate cycle-length and cycle-rate relationship” with a load of about 80％ subjective intensity. Training is required while suppressing “reaching the limit”, and it was considered to be an important issue in terms of load management. There are similarities in the grading ability of cycle-rate in vertical and drop jumps and double-poling. This finding indicates that the grading ability of athletes could be easily confirmed in advance by vertical and drop jumps when planning a training plan for roller ski training.</p>