Endurance

Endurance Exercise – Building the engine

When it comes to exercise, there are two defining characteristics that decide the type of exercise we are doing; the duration and the intensity of the exercise

Exercise = Duration x Intensity

The term ‘endurance’ refers to one’s capacity to sustain a given velocity or power output for the longest possible time. The defining characteristics of endurance exercise is that it is considered to be an activity in which the individual exercises at a submaximal intensity (less than maximum) for prolonged periods of time

Endurance Sport = prolonged duration x submaximal intensity

An easy way to think about someone’s aerobic capacity is to compare it to the engine capacity of a high performance vehicle. 

Endurance training causes adaptations in the pulmonary, cardiovascular and neuromuscular systems that improve the delivery of the oxygen from the atmospheric air to the mitochondria and enhance the control of metabolism within the muscle cells. 

What this basically means is that consequently, you are able to perform endurance exercise with less effort, as you are fitter, and more efficient.  

Your performance capacity is determined by four key parameters of aerobic fitness:

  1. Maximal aerobic power (VO2)
  2. Percentage of VO2
  3. Lactate threshold 
  4. Exercise Economy

So in order to get fitter, you should be training with the intention of any one (or more) of these parameters. 

All Cycle Collective include an Endurance element in the sessions programming