Arturo Casado

Rey Juan Carlos University | URJC · Centre for Sport Studies

Purpose : In world-class middle- and long-distance running races, a Wavelight signal has recently been used as a pacing guide for setting records. The aim of the present study was to compare performance and psychophysiological effects between light-guided, drafting, and nonassisted pacing conditions in distance runners. Methods : Fifteen male middl...

Normal science is about assessing what is already known about a topic, about what needs to be known, and careful methods to collect the data required to answer the scientific question. It is the mainstay of scientific progress. But sometimes, luck or chance (eg, serendipity) plays a significant role in scientific process. We trace career experience...

Introduction: In distance running, pacing is characterized by changes in speed, leading to runners dropping off the leader’s pace until a few remain to contest victory with a final sprint. Pacing behavior has been well studied over the last 30 years, but much remains unknown. It might be related to finishing position, finishing time, and dependent...

El objetivo fue determinar la influencia del estado madurativo en la pérdida de rendimiento del sprint y del sprint resistido en jóvenes futbolistas. Se evaluó la madurez biológica en 56 participantes y se agruparon según los años predichos a partir de la pico de velocidad de crecimiento (PHV) (pre-, mid- y post-PHV). Las diferencias entre grupos s...

Context Despite the progress toward gender equality in events like the Olympic Games and other institutionalized competitions, and the rising number of women engaging in physical exercise programs, scientific studies focused on establishing specific nutritional recommendations for female athletes and other physically active women are scarce. Objec...

The aims of this study were to compare marathon pacing profiles between major championships winning races and world record (WR) races in men's and women's long-distance runners. Percentages of mean race speeds (%RS) for each 5 km section and last 2,195 m were compared between the latest 12 men's and 8 women's marathon WRs and the most recent 14 men...

Purpose A cancer diagnosis is commonly associated with a decline in patient’s life satisfaction and more pessimistic expectations about the future. The identification of strategies to improve life satisfaction in patients with cancer is of great interest to health practitioners since it may be associated with a better prognosis of cancer and higher...

The differences in pacing demands between track distance-running championship and meet (e.g., World Record [WR]) races have not been specified yet in the current literature. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine pacing behaviour differences between WRs and global championship (i.e., World Championships and Olympic Games) medal performan...

The ergogenic effects of acute caffeine intake on endurance cycling performance lasting ~1 h have been well documented in controlled laboratory studies. However, the potential benefits of caffeine supplementation in cycling disciplines such as cross-country/mountain biking have been rarely studied. In cross-country cycling, performance is dependent...

Las acciones balísticas, tales como el salto, son determinantes en el resultado de un partido de fútbol. Por lo tanto, su evaluación, cuantificación y optimización podrían ser concluyentes para el deportista. El objetivo del presente trabajo de revisión narrativa ha sido detallar los tipos de saltos verticales y horizontales más usados y confiables...

Pre-exercise intake of caffeine (from ~3 to 9 mg/kg) has been demonstrated as an effective supplementation strategy to increase fat oxidation during fasted exercise. However, a pre-exercise meal can alter the potential effect of caffeine on fat oxidation during exercise as caffeine modifies postprandial glycaemic and insulinemic responses. Hypothet...

Purpose : This study determined the evolution of performance and pacing for each winner of the men’s Olympic 1500-m running track final from 1924 to 2020. Methods : Data were obtained from publicly available sources. When official splits were unavailable, times from sources such as YouTube were included and interpolated from video records. Final ti...

We aimed to compare differences in performance and pacing variability indices between 5000 m heats and finals during major championships in men and women. Data with 100 m time resolution were used to compare overall pacing variability (standard deviation of 100 m section times, SD; and coefficient of variation, CV%) and short-term pacing variabilit...

Scientific interest in pacing goes back >100 years. Contemporary interest, both as a feature of athletic competition and as a window into understanding fatigue, goes back >30 years. Pacing represents the pattern of energy use designed to produce a competitive result while managing fatigue of different origins. Pacing has been studied both against t...

The aim of the present study was to describe a novel training model based on lactate-guided threshold interval training (LGTIT) within a high-volume, low-intensity approach, which characterizes the training pattern in some world-class middle- and long-distance runners and to review the potential physiological mechanisms explaining its effectiveness...

Critical speed represents the highest exercise intensity at which the oxidative phosphorylation is sufficient to satisfy the energy demand. Since the release of the advanced footwear technology in May 2017, every road record from the 5-km event to the marathon has been broken. The question arises whether this type of footwear improves critical spee...

The aim of the present study was to develop an explanatory model of doping susceptibility among competitive track and field athletes using a logistic regression analysis accounting for some morality-related variables which were not explored in previous studies. A total of 281 Spanish elite track and field athletes (49.5% women, 48.4% have competed...

Background Maximal aerobic speed (MAS) is a useful parameter to assess aerobic capacity and estimate training intensity in middle- and long-distance runners. However, whether middle- and long-distance runners reach different levels of MAS compared to other endurance athletes with similar V̇O 2max has not been previously studied. Therefore, we aimed...

Pacing behavior is typically described through graphical profiles and coefficient of variation (CV%) with respect to the mean speed of the race. Given that races during major championships are highly stochastic because of runners’ tactical behaviors, it may be valuable to use alternative methods to better describe and capture the occurrence of paci...

HighlightsPrior to participation in meet marathon races such as Berlin marathon, elite runners should select the group that they will join during the race according to their current performance level as a preassigned pace set by a pacemaker will be adopted.Athletes could follow an even rather than positive pacing behaviour which will allow them to...

Fernández-Galván, LM, Casado, A, García-Ramos, A, and Haff, GG. Effects of vest and sled resisted sprint training on sprint performance in young soccer players: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2022-The aim of the meta-analysis was to determine the effect of resisted sprint training (RST) on sprint performa...

Training intensity distribution is important to training program design. The zones 1 to 2 boundary can be defined by the Talk Test and the rating of perceived exertion. The zones 2 to 3 boundary can be defined by respiratory gas exchange, maximal lactate steady state, or, more simply, by critical speed (CS). The upper boundary of zone 3 is potentia...

Purpose: This review aimed to determine (1) performance and training characteristics such as training intensity distribution (TID), volume, periodization, and methods in highly trained/elite distance runners and (2) differences in training volume and TID between event distances in highly trained/elite distance runners. Methods: A systematic revi...

Coaches strongly influence athletes' attitudes toward doping and can shape athlete's beliefs, behaviors, and decisions to be for or against doping. Coached-centered studies examining multiple factors affecting coaches' doping attitudes and behavior are scarce. The aim of this study was to analyze for the first-time attitudes toward doping in athlet...

Objective: This study aimed to compare the acute effects of a full squat (SQ) or hip thrust (HT) with two different loading intensities (60% and 85% 1 RM) on sprint ability in junior male tennis players. Methods: Nineteen tennis players were included in this research. They underwent four different experimental conditions: HT at 60% 1 RM, HT at 85%...

The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of maturation status on the components of the sprint force-velocity (F-V) profile in young soccer players. Sixty-two male young soccer players from the same professional soccer academy took part in the present study. A cross-sectional design was implemented to compare the main components o...

This study aimed to compare sprint, jump performance, and sprint mechanical variables between endurance-adapted milers (EAM, specialized in 1500–3000-m) and speed-adapted milers (SAM, specialized in 800–1500 m) and to examine the relationships between maximal sprint speed (MSS), anaerobic speed reserve (ASR), sprint, jump performance, and sprint me...

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of running wide on bends regarding intermediate changes of position, dispersion of athletes, and speed relative to season best (SB) between medalists and non-medalists in men's and women's 800 m championship finals. Extra distance covered on bends was measured using official videos. The total dis...

The aims of the current study were to compare the pacing patterns of all-time 800 m, 1500 m and mile running world records (WRs) and to determine whether differences exist between sexes, and if 800 m and 1500 m WRs were broken during championship or meet races. Overall and lap times for men and women's 800 m, 1500 m, and mile WRs from World Athleti...

Training-intensity distribution (TID) is considered the key factor to optimize performance in endurance sports. This systematic review aimed to: I) characterize the TID typically used by middle-and long-distance runners; II) compare the effect of different types of TID on endurance performance and its physiological determinants; III) determine the...

Background: Critical speed (CS) represents the highest exercise intensity at which the oxidative phosphorylation is sufficient to satisfy the energy demand. Since the release of the Nike Vaporfly (VPF) shoes in May 2017, every road record from the 5k event to the marathon have been broken. The question arises whether this type of footwear improves...

Casado, A, Hanley, B, Santos-Concejero, J, and Ruiz-Pérez, LM. World-class long-distance running performances are best predicted by volume of easy runs and deliberate practice of short-interval and tempo runs. J Strength Cond Res 35(9): 2525-2531, 2021-The aim of this novel study was to analyze the effect of deliberate practice (DP) and easy contin...

Purpose: Optimal training for endurance performance remains a debated topic. In this case study, the training of a world-class middle-/long-distance runner over a year's duration is presented. Methods: The training is analyzed via 2 methods to define training intensity distribution (TID) (1) by physiological zones and (2) by zones based on race...

The Sport Drug Control Model (SDCM) is likely to be the model which most explicitly represents the theoretical paradigm of the psychological study of the use of doping in sport. This model can be further developed through its analysis in different populations and cultures. The main aim of this study was to empirically test the SDCM while analyzing...

A well-planned periodized approach allows swimmers to achieve peak performance at the major national and international competitions. Purpose: To identify the main characteristics of endurance training for highly trained swimmers described by the training intensity distribution (TID), volume, and periodization models. Methods: The electronic databas...

Citation: Prieto-González, P.; Martínez-Castillo, J.L.; Fernández-Galván, L.M.; Casado, A.; Soporki, S.; Sánchez-Infante, J. Abstract: The present study aimed to determine the epidemiology of sport-related injuries in amateur and professional adolescent athletes and the incidence of different risk factors on those injuries. Four hundred ninety-eigh...

The aim was to determine the relationships among components of the force-velocity (F-V) profiles in jumping and sprinting, with both biological and chronological ages in 89 young soccer players belonging to categories from U10 to U18. Participants performed countermovement jumps (CMJ) and 20-m sprint tests. F-V components assessed were associated w...

Background Despite the high prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) among women who participate in sports, and the efforts made to affect these pathologies through pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training, its effects on PFM function remain unclear. Objective To evaluate the effects of therapeutic exercise programmes on PFM function and quality of...

Background: The Marathon runners must have the proper technical preparation to reach excellence and to achieve adequate psychological preparation for the race. Against this background, the current study aims to describe the implementation results of a cognitive-behavioral intervention based on psychological skills training for marathon runners. Met...

Determination of athlete training loads are of great interest to sport practitioners and are widely used in the prescription and monitoring of physical conditioning programs. Although a number of methods of load quantification are used, a common feature is that total load calculations are the product of exercise intensity and duration. We argue tha...

The aim was to compare pacing, biomechanical and perceptual responses between elite speed-and endurance-adapted milers during a sprint interval training session (SIT). Twenty elite and world-class middle-distance runners (male: n = 16, female: n = 4; 24.95 ± 5.18 years; 60.89 ± 7 kg) were classified as either speed-or endurance-adapted milers accor...

This chapter discusses the training volume and intensity distribution patterns that emerge from the scientific literature and training of elite middle- and long-distance runners. Successful elite and world-class middle- and long-distance runners typically follow a traditional linear periodisation in all events with the exception of the marathon in...

The aim was to determine the pacing strategies used to achieve male 1500 m running world record performances. Lap times (three first laps and the last 300 m) for the last 37 male 1500 m world record performances achieved since 1917 until 1998 were collected. An analysis of variance with repeated measures and a Bonferroni post hoc test were conducte...

Purpose: To assess the effect of acute nitrate-rich (BJ) and nitrate-depleted (PL) beetroot juice ingestion on 2 km running performance in amateur runners, and to what extent the ergogenic effect of BJ supplementation would be influenced by the sex of the participants; Methods: Twenty-four amateur long-distance runners (14 males and 10 females) per...

Considering that legislative, biomedical and psycho-social factors could be the cornerstones in antidoping research, the latter has been the latest to be developed. The aim of this study is to carry out an in-depth bibliographic review on the study of doping in elite sport from the perspective of the social sciences and to identify new anti-doping...

Purpose: To determine different relationships between, and predictive ability of, performance variables at intermediate distances with finishing time in elite male 10,000-m runners. Methods: Official electronic finishing and 100-m split times of the men's 10,000-m finals at the 2008 and 2016 Olympic Games and IAAF World Championships in 2013 and...

In this paper we illustrate the main differences regarding workload management between individual and team sports, and how a true individualization of all the periodization factors in team sports could result in a better managed fitness-fatigue equilibrium and, thus, in a reduced injury risk and enhanced performance. Future studies should illustrat...

The pacing behaviors used by elite athletes differ among individual sports, necessitating the study of sport-specific pacing profiles. Additionally, pacing behaviors adopted by elite runners differ depending on race distance. An “all-out” strategy, characterized by initial rapid acceleration and reduction in speed in the later stages, is observed d...

This study aimed to analyse the training intensity distribution (TID) of a group of 7 world-class middle- and long-distance runners over 50 weeks using two different approaches to organise TID zones: (1) based on individual specific race pace and; (2) based on physiological parameters. Analysed training data included training volume, intensity and...

Short hurdling races are sprint races in which athletes must also clear 10 hurdles. Assessing the force-velocity (F-V) profile in sprinting has been found useful for implementing individualized training programs and determining the mechanical effectiveness in force application. This study therefore compared the sprint mechanical F-V profile between...

Endurance running has become an immensely popular sporting activity, with millions of recreational runners around the world. Despite the great popularity of endurance running as a recreational activity during leisure time, there is no consensus on the best practice for recreational runners to effectively train to reach their individual objectives a...

Jiménez-Reyes, P, Casado, A, González, JE, and Rodríguez-Fernández, C. Influence of hurdling clearance on sprint mechanical properties in high-level athletes. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2020-Short hurdling races are sprint races in which athletes must also clear 10 hurdles. Assessing the force-velocity (F-V) profile in sprinting has been f...

Objectives. To compare season’s best times preceding major championships (SBprior) and times achieved in major championship flat track races. Material and methods. 2320 men’s and 2312 women’s finishing times over 100 m, 400 m, 800 m, 1500 m and 5000 m at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships and Olympic G...

The aim of this novel research was to compare the amount of systematic training and the different training activities undertaken by elite-standard long-distance runners during their first seven years of systematic training. Participants were divided into three performance groups: world-class Kenyans (N = 19), European-standard Spanish athletes (N =...

The aim of this study was to establish whether the lane and heat draw influenced placings and progression in world-class 800-m track running. Finishing positions and times of 1,086 performances at the Olympic Games and IAAF World Championships between 1999 and 2017 were obtained. Mean finishing and season's best times (SB), as well as placings and...

Internal training load refers to the degree of disturbance in psychophysiological homeostasis provoked by a training session and has been traditionally measured through session-RPE, which is the product of the session Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and the duration. External training load refers to the actual physical work completed, and depends...

Sport Psychology has been proving as an excellent tool (theories, experiences, frameworks and interventions) in fair play, no discriminatio, equality. etc. Results of a trinning based on PSYTOOL project is presented

PST training (Weinberg & Gould, 2011) is an important field of intervention in Sport Psychology and an important part of coaches education. Several marathon runners, rowers and kayacking practicioners were trained based on PST strategies. Results are presented. Research at Andalusian Cetre of Sport Medicine, Seville, Spain

Running a 42,195 meters is considering a diffucult task. Anxiety, lack of self confidence, and negative thoughs are frecuently experiences by long distance runners. Method: participants practised PST before a marathon: Relaxation tech, Stop thinking strategies, Association and dissociation Tech .. Pre post evaluation. Results: Significant decline...

Internal training load refers to the degree of disturbance in psychophysiological homeostasis provoked by a training session and has been traditionally measured through session-RPE, which is the product of the session Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and the duration. External training load refers to the actual physical work completed, and depends...

Pacing is the manner in which effort is distributed over the duration of an exercise bout, and is an important determinant of the extent to which individual potential is realised during athletic races. Observed pacing behaviors are thought to result from complex decision-making processes, and several models have been proposed that may explain the m...

Purpose: To assess tactical and performance factors associated with progression from qualification rounds in the 800 m and 1500 m running events at the 2017 IAAF World Championships. Methods: Official results were used to access final and intermediate positions and times, as well as performance characteristics of competitors. Shared variance betwee...

Purpose: To assess tactical and performance factors associated with progression from qualification rounds in the 800 m and 1500 m running events at the 2017 IAAF World Championships. Methods: Official results were used to access final and intermediate positions and times, as well as performance characteristics of competitors. Shared variance bet...

This review aimed to examine the current evidence for three primary training intensity distribution types; 1) Pyramidal Training, 2) Polarised Training and 3) Threshold Training. Where possible, we calculated training intensity zones relative to the goal race pace, rather than physiological or subjective variables. We searched 3 electronic database...

Amount of specific long distance training activities in best Kenyan long distance runners.

Within the context of expert performance and the deliberate practice approach, the present study analysed the subjective perceptions about the training tasks of a group of international long distance runners from Spain and Kenya. To do so the athletes fulfilled a questionnaire based on taxonomy of training activities that assessed four dimensions:...

Within the context of expert performance and the deliberate practice approach, the present study analysed the subjective perceptions about the training tasks of a group of international long distance runners from Spain and Kenya. To do so the athletes fulfilled a questionnaire based on taxonomy of training activities that assessed four dimensions:...

This study is related with the Theory of Expert Performance. This theory proposes that to become an expert in a domain, a subject must pass an extensive period of consistent acquisition in thousands of hours of practice intentionally designed to improve, ie deliberate. This study aimed to analyze the subjective perceptions of a group of Kenyan long...

This study is related with the Theory of Expert Performance. This theory proposes that to become an expert in a domain, a subject must pass an extensive period of consistent acquisition in thousands of hours of practice intentionally designed to improve, ie deliberate. This study aimed to analyze the subjective perceptions of a group of Kenyan long...