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The eccentric muscle loading influences the pacing strategies during repeated downhill sprint intervals

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Abstract

The purpose was to compare self-chosen pace during ten repetitions of 60 m running sprints performed on a level surface (SPL), or when running uphill (SPU) or downhill (SPD) on a 4.7% slope. When expressed as percent of maximal running speed for corresponding condition, SPD was lower than SPL (95.28 ± 1.93 vs. 97.31 ± 1.29%; P = 0.044), which was lower than SPU (97.31 ± 1.29 vs. 98.09 ± 0.74%; P = 0.026). Heart rates, blood lactate concentrations and general perceived exertion were lower during SPD (163.8 ± 8.3 bpm, 11.66 ± 1.24 mmol L−1, and 4.1 ± 1.0) than SPL (169.8 ± 7.8 bpm, 13.69 ± 0.33 mmol L−1, and 5.8 ± 0.6), which were lower than SPU (174.9 ± 8.7 bpm, 15.27 ± 0.02, mmol L−1, and 6.3 ± 0.5) (P < 0.05 for all analyzes). Results show that the level of eccentric muscle loading influences the pacing strategy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculté des Sciences de l’Homme et de l’Environnement, Département STAPS, Centre Universitaire de Recherches en Activités Physiques et Sportives, Université de La Réunion, 117, rue du Général Ailleret, 97430, Le Tampon, France

    B. Baron, F. Moullan, G. Dalleau & C. Verkindt

  2. Laboratoire d’Etudes de la Motricité Humaine, Faculté des Sciences du Sport et de l’EP, Université de Lille 2, 9 rue de l’Université, 59790, Ronchin, France

    F. Deruelle

  3. MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, University of Cape Town, PO Box 115, Newlands, 7725, South Africa

    T. D. Noakes

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  1. B. Baron
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  2. F. Deruelle
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  3. F. Moullan
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  4. G. Dalleau
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  5. C. Verkindt
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  6. T. D. Noakes
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Correspondence to B. Baron.

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Baron, B., Deruelle, F., Moullan, F. et al. The eccentric muscle loading influences the pacing strategies during repeated downhill sprint intervals. Eur J Appl Physiol 105, 749–757 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0957-6

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