Which one of these following strategies do you think is utilized more in modern coaching and conditioning?1. Saturation
This is just a term that I use to describe the way of training that is, intended to prepare the athlete for the game/race/competition so that nothing that the athlete will face during the competition will exceed what the athlete has gone through in his/her training.
In other words, especially in terms of volume, the athlete trains so much that a single race or a series of races will not be a problem what it comes to the level of traditional conditioning.
In my opinion, saturation strategy is used particularly by endurance athletes that want to make sure that they have enough miles behind them on the road or in the pool before the competition.
The off-season is usually the time when this kind of training takes place the most.
2. Optimization
This is not the best term here as it easily suggests that this is the only correct strategy because of the word "optimization". Who wouldn't use the most "optimal strategy"? Well, that is not the thing, I just haven't come up with a better term yet.
Optimization refers to a way of preparing for the race or races that aims to a least possible amount or volume of training and conditioning in order to reach the desired goals.
Again, a better explanation could be that the athlete tries to train as little as possible in order to get to a desired level of fitness for a specific race or season. It might still be a lot of overall volume but not a single "wasted" mile or minute.
This is where the word "optimization" comes in. Every minute and hour would have to be optimized in training to get to the same (or better) level than the athletes who "saturate" themselves.
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Is there a point to this discussion? Does any athlete use just either or of these strategies? What are the pros and cons of these different ways to prepare for a "battle"?
Saturation-strategy is probably safer in terms of consistent level of fitness and conditioning throughout then season. However, the high volume of training always poses a threat to recovery and thus is potentially more injury-prone approach. Saturation can take the athletes that can tolerate a lot of volume to a high level, but can at the same time drop out promising athletes whose adaptational ability is different.
This brings up an interesting question. Are endurance sports on top level only for those who can handle a lot of volume in training or could someone with less ability to recover do well with a different strategy?
Or is there a point in athletes life where saturation phase has lasted for a decade or two and now a different strategy would work better?
What about reaching the full potential of an athlete? I could be wrong but my guess is that by using saturation strategy solely athlete's potential can never be fully reached...not that it ever will completely, but at least in terms of realistic potential.
If we look at the optimization strategy, we find some holes in this theory as well. It is possibly much more uncertain approach in reaching the goals...a lot of things could go wrong. Not training enough could obviously ruin the whole season.
This approach would also require a lot of skill, eye and experience from the coach and the athlete to be able to successfully put the plan in action and stick to it.
Great thing about optimization would be the time allocated for the adaptations to take place, just as long as there would be something to adapt to. Without sufficient training stimulation there is obviously no adaptation.
With optimization, small everyday tweaks and tools such as active warm-ups, recovery strategies, heart rate monitoring etc. would become essential.
So which strategy is better?
I don't believe there is an answer to that question. It all depends on the individual, right? What a boring answer, huh? How about a combination of both? That is what I am using for my athletes now...enough volume but not a single mile trained without a clear goal and adaptation in mind for those miles...so no "wasted" miles.
I am fascinated by the training methods by one of the all-time best runners ever, a 9-time olympic winner Paavo Nurmi (1897-1973).
He trained volume like a maniac but also included advanced recovery and optimization staregies in his training. He walked and hiked a LOT and measured his level of fitness with 400 m sprints.
He performed active warm-ups and flexibility programs on his own and planned his training like a war general.
There is a lot to learn from the mentors of the past.
Tommi
PS: Too many people confine their exercise to jumping to conclusions, running up bills, stretching the truth, bending over backward, lying down on the job, sidestepping responsibility and pushing their luck. Author Unknown
