Validation of end-of-session D′ balance for quantifying and differentiating exhaustive and nonexhaustive intermittent-training sessions in runners
Date
2025
Authors
Bellenger, C.R.
Nitschke, M.
Bartram, J.C.
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International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 2025; 20(5):718-726
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Purpose: Accurate modeling of intermittent-running sessions by D ' balance would aid in understanding their physical demand and subsequent prescription of intermittent sessions. In intermittent cycling, W ' balance can be validly quantified by modeling W ' depletion and recovery; however, these models have not been validated in intermittent running, which was this project's purpose.
Methods: Critical speed (in meters per second) and D ' (in meters) were calculated from the linear relationship between speed (in meters per second) and 1/time from season-best performances over 1500-, 3000-, and 5000-m race distances. Thirty intermittentrunning sessions were classified as exhaustive (n = 14) and nonexhaustive (n = 16). D ' balance was calculated from time-stamped running-speed data using D ' depletion and recovery models, allowing end-of-session D ' balance to be found. End-of-session D ' balance for exhaustive and nonexhaustive intermittent sessions were compared, and the 95% CI around end-of-session D ' balance in exhaustive intermittent sessions was evaluated for inclusion of 0.
Results: A moderate difference (effect size +/- 95% CI =1.01 +/- 0.72; P = .01) existed between end-of-session D ' balance in exhaustive (mean +/- 95% CI =157 +/- 25 m) and nonexhaustive (200 +/- 19 m) sessions. The 95% CI around end-of-session D ' balance in exhaustive intermittent sessions did not include 0.
Conclusions: End-of-session D ' balance did differentiate between exhaustive and nonexhaustive intermittent sessions. However, since D ' balance at the end of exhaustive sessions should approximate 0, end-of-session D ' balance did not accurately quantify exhaustive sessions as exhaustive. The inaccurate quantification of end-of-session D ' balance during exhaustive intermittent running sessions is likely related to the exponential recovery of D ' that is reliant on an accurately quantified recovery time constant.
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Copyright 2025 Human Kinetics, Inc.