Sprint interval running and continuous running produce training specific adaptations, despite a similar improvement of aerobic endurance capacity-a randomized trial of healthy adults.

Litleskare, Sigbjørn; Enoksen, Eystein; Sandvei, Marit; Støen, Line; Stensrud, Trine; Johansen, Egil; Jensen, Jørgen

doi:10.3390/ijerph17113865

Cited by 24Cardiovascular and exercise physiologySports Performance and TrainingExercise and Physiological Responses

Sprint interval running and continuous running produce training specific adaptations, despite a similar improvement of aerobic endurance capacity-a randomized trial of healthy adults.

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Litleskare, Sigbjørn, Enoksen, Eystein, Sandvei, Marit, Støen, Line, Stensrud, Trine, Johansen, Egil, Jensen, Jørgen·2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

DOI 10.3390/ijerph17113865PMC PMC7312918

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Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate training-specific adaptations to eight weeks of moderate intensity continuous training (CT) and sprint interval training (SIT). Young healthy subjects (n = 25; 9 males and 16 females) performed either continuous training (30–60 min, 70–80% peak heart rate) or sprint interval training (5–10 near maximal 30 s sprints, 3 min recovery) three times per week for eight weeks. Maximal oxygen consumption, 20 m shuttle run test and 5·60 m sprint test were performed before and after the intervention. Furthermore, heart rate, oxygen pulse, respiratory exchange ratio, lactate and running economy were assessed at five submaximal intensities, before and after the training interventions. Maximal oxygen uptake increased after CT (before: 47.9 ± 1.5; after: 49.7 ± 1.5 mL·kg−1·min−1, p < 0.05) and SIT (before: 50.5 ± 1.6; after: 53.3 ± 1.5 mL·kg−1·min−1, p < 0.01), with no statistically significant differences between groups. Both groups increased 20 m shuttle run performance and 60 m sprint performance, but SIT performed better than CT at the 4th and 5th 60 m sprint after the intervention (p < 0.05). At submaximal intensities, CT, but not SIT, reduced heart rate (p < 0.05), whereas lactate decreased in both groups. In conclusion, both groups demonstrated similar improvements of several performance measures including VO2max, but sprint performance was better after SIT, and CT caused training-specific adaptations at submaximal intensities.

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Theoretically, the energy content in 1 kg of fat allows a person weighing 70 kg to run approximately 125 km.
“Theoretically, the energy content in 1 kg of fat allows a person weighing 70 kg to run approximately 125 km (Frayn, 1983; Litleskare et al., 2020).”
From Effect of Exercise Training on Fat Loss—Energetic Perspectives and the Role of Improved Adipose Tissue Function and Body Fat Distribution (2021) · cites this paper as Litleskare et al., 2020
The Materials and Methods section (2.3, page not provided) defines running economy in terms of oxygen consumption, body mass and running speed, but does not estimate how far stored fat could fuel a run. Searches for the 1 kg, 70 kg and 125 km calculation and for fat oxidation or energy expenditure found no passage addressing that estimate. (LLM, conf=0.76)
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It costs a person weighing 77 kg approximately 7,700 kcal to run 100 km, corresponding to the energy in 1 kg of fat.
“Therefore, it costs a person weighing 77 kg approximately 7,700 kcal to run 100 km, corresponding to the energy in 1 kg of fat.”
From Effect of Exercise Training on Fat Loss—Energetic Perspectives and the Role of Improved Adipose Tissue Function and Body Fat Distribution (2021) · cites this paper as Litleskare et al., 2020
The Methods section (2.3, page unavailable) defines running economy using oxygen consumption, body mass, and running speed, but does not give a calorie cost for running 100 km. Searches for 77 kg, 7,700 kcal, and the energy equivalent of 1 kg of fat found no passage in our copy addressing those figures. (LLM, conf=0.72)
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Authors: Litleskare, S., Enoksen, E., Sandvei, M., Støen, L., Stensrud, T., Johansen, E., & Jensen, J.
Affiliations: University of Inland Norway (NO)
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NO)
Corresponding author: Jensen, Jørgen
ORCID: Litleskare, Sigbjørn
Stensrud, Trine
Venue: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Publisher: MDPI AG
Published: 2020-05-29
Volume: 17
Issue: 11
Pages: 3865
ISSN: 1660-4601 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17113865
PMC: PMC7312918
OpenAlex: W3030542893
Cited by: 24
References: 39
Citations by year: 2026: 5 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1
FWCI: 2.76
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: gold
dx.doi.org
Licence: cc-by
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (vor)
Locations: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, other-oa)
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
Keywords: sprint interval training, continuous training, training specificity, cardiorespiratory fitness, VO2max, sprint performance, submaximal heart rate, lactate, running economy, respiratory exchange ratio, training effects
MeSH terms: High-Intensity Interval Training, Adaptation, Physiological, Adolescent, Female, Humans, Male, Oxygen Consumption, Physical Endurance, Running, Exercise Tolerance, Young Adult

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Sprint interval running and continuous running produce training specific adaptations, despite a similar improvement of aerobic endurance capacity-a randomized trial of healthy adults.

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