Debra and her father Jack are training to run a 5K together. The race is in early September, and they began training together in early June, at the beginning of Debra's summer break from college. Jack has been running in road races for 10 years, and he's thrilled that his daughter is taking an interest in his avocation. He finds the training easy and always has. He distinctly remembers how quickly he improved his race times in the first year and a half of competing. Debra, on the other hand, finds the training a challenge, although she can tell that she is quickly improving her ability to run longer and at a faster pace.
Josh is a recreational triathlete. He finds several regional mini-triathlons in which to compete each summer and fall. Although the lengths of each portion of the triathlons vary from event to event, Josh looks for mini-triathlons with 0.25- to 1-mi swims, 10- to 15-mi bikes, and 4- to 8-mi runs. Josh trains three times a week, working the training sessions into his busy work schedule. In a typical training session, Josh bikes 5 to 10 mi and runs 2 to 4 mi. Because he doesn't have access to a pool, Josh doesn't get in any actual swimming training. To compensate, he trains with weights three times a week, focusing on upper-body strength, thinking that this will at least help him develop strong enough arm and shoulder muscles for the swim.
Individual Training Responses Options - If you place either Debra, Jack, Josh, or all three in each scenario, which would it be?
1. Genetics limits the range of maximal oxygen consumption.
2. A person with a relatively low initial state of conditioning will show larger relative improvement for the same training program.
3. Physiological adaptations are specific to the nature of the training activity.
4. Gender plays a role in VO2max levels.
5. Improvement of aerobic capacity with endurance training will not be attenuated by resistance training.
6. Age limits maximal cardiac output and therefore the VO2max attainable with training.
7. Fully mature athletes reach the highest attainable VO2max within 8 to 18 months of heavy endurance training.
8. Race pace is directly related to VO2 value at lactate threshold.
9. Cardiorespiratory endurance is the most important component of a training program.
10. A person with a relatively high initial state of conditioning will show smaller relative improvement for the same training program.
11. Periodic sessions of high-intensity training can save time and still improve endurance performance.