Shownotes

Background

03:25 -

• My name is Nicki Winfield Almquist and I am a doctor in exercise physiology.
  
  In my spare time I am an avid amateur cyclist.

Introducing sprint training into endurance cycling training

05:00 -

• The main theme of my research is on introducing sprint training in lower intensity endurance rides.
  
  In total we have published 6 studies on this topic, with slightly different angles.
• From a hormonal response we didn’t see too big of a difference between the groups that included and not included the sprints.
• In terms of muscular responses, the results are slightly hard to interpret but overall it appears that introducing sprints into endurance training stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis, improved vascularization of muscles and fat burning capacity more than just regular endurance training.
  
  However, these are only indications.
• In regards to performance, the sprint group unsurprisingly increased their sprint performance but also maintained their 20mins time trial power compared to the ”endurance only” group that decreased their 20mins power.
  
  It is also important to state that the ”sprint group” didn’t improve their VO2max during the course of the study.
• To clarify, the study protocol for the sprint group was 9 ”sprints!” during the course of a 4h ride, so it is not massively hard in terms of total energy expenditure.
• In terms of recovery and perceived exertions between introducing or not introducing sprints in the low intensity endurance rides the recovery process did not appear to be affected much.
  
  In regards to perceived exertion, the athletes rated the sessions with sprints harder to start with but after a while the athletes rated the sessions with or without sprints fairly the same (they habituated to the sprint training).

Implementing this concept to running (and swimming)

37:00 -

• For running, sprints are very effective in order to improve running economy (6 weeks of sprint training could improve running economy by about 2 %).
  
  However, the impact is rather high, and hence one could instead contemplate executing the sprints uphills.
• Just speculating, but I do believe that introducing sprints in the swim training could generate the same results, however, this is just speculating.

Implementing the research

43:15 -

• For professional athletes, introducing sprints in endurance rides could be a possible implementation of the research.
• Many professional athletes do these kind of sprint training to prepare for the classic races as the sprints mimic the demands of these kind of races.
  
  But also time trial athletes that have a more steady output during their races could improve from this kind of training.
• It does not appear that the sprint training only improve the anaerobic and sprint capacity, it also improves your aerobic capacity.

My current research

50:30 - 

• My current research is focused on nutrition and how well-trained athletes respons to different compositions of macro nutrients.

Rapid fire questions

51:30 -

• What is your favorite book, blog or resource related to endurance sports? Everything that comes from Alex Hutchinson!
• What is a habit that you have benefited from, athletically, personally or professionally? Athletically I was trying to do everything better but also be satisfied with what you do.
• Who is somebody you look up to and/or has inspired you? Professionally I have been super inspired by late professor Bengt Saltin.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

• Nicki's Research Gate profile
• Nicki's Twitter profile
• Optimising endurance training of elite cyclists by inclusion of sprints during low-intensity sessions - Nicki's Thesis
• What types of intervals are most effective? A scientific analysis with Michael Rosenblat | EP#243
• Sprint Interval Training with Jerome Koral | EP#151
• The Aerobic and Anaerobic Contribution During Repeated 30-s Sprints in Elite Cyclists - Almquist et al. 2021
• Effects of Including Sprints in LIT Sessions during a 14-d Camp on Muscle Biology and Performance Measures in Elite Cyclists - Almquist et al. 2021
• The Inclusion of Sprints in Low-Intensity Sessions During the Transition Period of Elite Cyclists Improves Endurance Performance 6 Weeks Into the Subsequent Preparatory Period - Taylor et al. 2020
• Effects of including sprints during prolonged cycling on hormonal and muscular responses and recovery in elite cyclists - Almquist et al. 2020