title: Functional overreaching: the key to peak performance during the taper?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to examine whether performance supercompensation during taper is maximized in endurance athletes after experiencing overreaching during an overload training (OT) period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three trained male triathletes were assigned to either OT (n = 23) or normal training groups (n = 10, CTL) during 8 wk. Cycling performance and maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max) were measured after 1 wk of moderate training, a 3-wk period of OT, and then each week during 4-wk taper.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven of the 23 subjects from the OT group were diagnosed as functionally overreached (F-OR) after the overload period (decreased performance with concomitant high perceived fatigue), whereas the 12 other subjects were only acutely fatigued (AF) (no decrease in performance). According to qualitative statistical analysis, the AF group demonstrated a small to large greater peak performance supercompensation than the F-OR group (2.6% ± 1.1%) and the CTL group (2.6% ± 1.6%). V˙O2max increased significantly from baseline at peak performance only in the CTL and AF groups. Of the peak performances, 60%, 83%, and 73% occurred within the two first weeks of taper in CTL, AF, and OR, respectively. Ten cases of infection were reported during the study with higher prevalence in F-OR (70%) than that in AF (20%) and CTL (10%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that 1) greater gains in performance and V˙O2max can be achieved when higher training load is prescribed before the taper but not in the presence of F-OR; 2) peak performance is not delayed during taper when heavy training loads are completed immediately prior; and 3) F-OR provides higher risk for training maladaptation, including increased infection risks.
authors.affiliation: 1Laboratory of Sport, Expertise and Performance, Department of Research, National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance, Paris, FRANCE; and 2Sport and Exercise Discipline Group, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney, AUSTRALIA.
authors.forename: Anaël
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aubry
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hausswirth
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.forename: Aaron J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Coutts
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: LE Meur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid