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Functional overreaching: the key to peak performance during the taper?

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Overreaching before taper can enhance endurance performance, but functional overreaching (F-OR) hinders gains and increases infection risk. Acutely fatigued athletes achieve peak performance sooner during taper.

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Area of Science:

  • Sports Science
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Endurance Training

Background:

  • Tapering is crucial for endurance athletes to maximize performance.
  • Overreaching during training can potentially enhance supercompensation.
  • Understanding the effects of different training loads on performance is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if performance supercompensation during taper is maximized in endurance athletes following an overload training period.
  • To investigate the impact of functional overreaching (F-OR) versus acute fatigue (AF) on performance gains during taper.

Main Methods:

  • Thirty-three trained male triathletes were divided into overload training (OT) and control (CTL) groups.
  • Performance and maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max) were measured throughout an 8-week training period and a subsequent 4-week taper.
  • Subjects were classified as functionally overreached (F-OR) or acutely fatigued (AF) post-overload.

Main Results:

  • The acutely fatigued (AF) group showed greater peak performance supercompensation compared to F-OR and CTL groups.
  • Maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max) increased significantly at peak performance only in CTL and AF groups.
  • Higher prevalence of infections was observed in the F-OR group (70%) compared to AF (20%) and CTL (10%).

Conclusions:

  • Higher training loads before taper can improve performance and V˙O2max, unless functional overreaching (F-OR) is present.
  • Peak performance during taper is not delayed when heavy training loads are completed immediately prior.
  • Functional overreaching (F-OR) increases the risk of training maladaptation and infections.