Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Availability

Open Access Thesis

Keywords

Cross-country running; Track and field athletes--Training of;

Abstract

The primary purpose of the study was to describe training variables of the individuals and teams that participated in the 1995 Men's and Women's NCAA Division 1,11,111 Cross Country Championships. Subproblems in this study were (a) to determine the relationship between weekly mileage and training intensity and performance within and across all divisions and (b) to determine if the differences exist between selected training variables by performance tiers and divisions. A questionnaire developed by the investigator was used to gather information regarding weekly mileage, intensity, and duration the months of August, September, October, and November. The questionnaire was sent to 226 coaches of the athletes that participated in the 1995 Division 1,11,111 NCAA Cross Country Championships. Coaches were asked to respond to the questionnaire and return the information. Descriptive statistics were determined for all variables within divisions and gender. Subjects were also coded relative to their finishing in the top, middle, or bottom third of each division (termed tiers). To determine if differences existed between selected variables within divisions (three levels) and within their finishing tier (three levels), a multivariate two-way ANOVA (Division x Tier) was used. Additionally, correlations were performed between selected variables of mileage and intensity and performance. A total of 115 coaches returned the questionnaire. Response rate for the questionnaire was 51 %. Information was obtained on a total of 299 athletes. Weekly mileage in all divisions increased during the pre-competitive and competitive training periods. The highest weekly mileage occurred during the competitive mesocycle. Weekly mileage during the championship period decreased. In all divisions, intensity during the course of the training season increased with the highest percentage of interval mileage occurring during the championship season. Athletes, across all divisions that ran the highest weekly mileage and had higher mileage during all mesocycles placed higher at the national meet. Training periodization of high weekly mileage during pre-competitive and competitive mesocycles and lower weekly mileage and high interval intensity during the championship mesocycle are training variables that play a role in enhancing performance.

Year of Submission

1998

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services

First Advisor

Forrest Dolgener

Second Advisor

Sharon Huddleston

Third Advisor

Jeanette Marsh

Comments

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Date Original

1998

Object Description

1 PDF file (56 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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