Vegard Ulvang is provoked by Norwegian researcher’s training statements, – and calls him arrogant and “cocksure”. Fasterskier.com yesterday posted an article describing recent research statements claiming that distance training is worthless, and that interval training is the only answer to cardiovascular (aerobic) capacity.
Vegard Ulvang has been measured with one of the highest max VO2 values of any athlete (in any sport). He became this strong by performing “old fashioned” endurance training: Hours of easy distance training, with hard interval sessions once in a while. It is this general training method that researchers in Trondheim, Norway now call worthless.
”, says Ulvang.</p>
<p>– Endurance training is not new?</p>
<p>“No, and we must have done something right in the past, those of us that have done this “so-called” worthless training. I have seen athletes from other countries try these researchers’ interval training methods, but never found their names high up on the results”.</p>
<p><B>Strong opinions</B><br />
– But it is important to listen to research?<br />
“Of course we need research, but what are their goals? Is it necessary to be so categorical and cocksure?”<br />
– They suggest 4 minute long intervals?<br />
“To be a bit ironic, I have long had an idea that interval training improves max VO2. This is nothing revolutionary. But there must be a limit, can it be improved in infinity? We have tried intervals that are both shorter and longer than 4 minutes, but I’m more worried about young skiers reading this debate. If I were 19 years old again, I would probably have read it in black and white. I wanted to learn, and was willing to do whatever it took. To say it straight: I am glad no one gave me such ideas at that time.”</p>
<p><B>Frightening</B><br />
– Couldn’t the practical coach and athlete benefit from ideas from the research community?<br />
“Definitively! Training principles are built around a combination of practical experience and what research has confirmed and supported. It is only this particular research group that claims that we are so “out of touch”. I think it is frightening to see that such educated people can come out with such one-sided and strong statements”, says a very provoked Cross-Country hero and Olympic Champion Vegard Ulvang.</p>
<p><B>Fasterskier Editor’s comment:</B> <I>It is well known that many past endurance athletes have experimented with interval training methods. This has shown to give very good short-term results. However, to become a Champion, you must train smart over long time. It is extremely difficult to quantitatively measure what the best training method is, – athletes are individual persons who each may react differently to similar training impulses.</I></p>
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