PubHawk
Scand J Med Sci Sports February 2006 PMID 16430681

Quantifying training intensity distribution in elite endurance athletes: is there evidence for an "optimal" distribution?

K Stephen Seiler, Glenn Øvrevik Kjerland

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Mentions

50
Peak: 6 in Oct 2024
across 5 sources since Feb 2019

Extended reach

69,639
potential audience

Total likes

1,165

Video views

41,618

Mentions per month

Feb 2019 – Aug 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News24 articles
  • X / Twitter12 posts
  • YouTube6 videos
  • Facebook4 posts
  • Blogs4 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall discussions reveal strong support for the established polarized training approach, with references to classic studies like Seiler & Kjerland and mentions of the 80/20 rule, highlighting the enduring influence of these concepts. The tone varies from technical and analytical to affirming, illustrating the topic's importance in elite endurance training practices.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the robustness of polarization in training, citing decades of coaching practices and supporting literature, indicating general consensus on its effectiveness.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high interest, with many referencing well-known studies, statistical data, and commonly used concepts like the 80/20 rule, which suggest active engagement with the topic.

EngagementModerate engagement

Several posts delve into methodological details and implications, such as questioning the role of blood lactate measurements and VO2max percentages, reflecting thoughtful analysis.

ImpactModerate impact

While some recognize the significance for athletic training, the overall perceived impact appears moderate, emphasizing the reinforcement of existing training paradigms over revolutionary insights.

Abstract in brief

  • The study examined how elite junior cross-country skiers distribute their training intensity and found that their training follows a polarized pattern, with most sessions performed either well below or above the lactate threshold, with minimal time spent at threshold levels.
  • Different methods of measuring training intensity—heart rate, session RPE, and blood lactate—produced similar distributions, indicating consistent patterns across different assessment tools.
  • The results suggest that elite endurance athletes tend to limit training at the lactate threshold (around 2-4 mM blood lactate), which is consistent with training patterns observed in other top-level endurance athletes across various sports.]
Read the full abstract

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
竹井 尚也 TAKEI Naoya, PhD
@NaoyaTakei0421 · X

@marunet_ 少し調べました。まず、以下の研究でVT1(LT1)とVT2(LT2)の時の%VO2maxを調べたところ VT1=75%VO2max VT2=90%VO2maxくらいです。 https://t.co/3krlrXbO8z https://t.co/M4n2SxAvGM

Feb 25, 2019 · 7 likes · 1 share · 7,733 followers View post →
1Ø456
@pandayakiaki · X

Seilerが80:20で名を馳せたらしい2004の論文 明確に80:20はセッション頻度の話をしている むしろ面白いのは、生の心拍データを分析して、各セッションの目的強度（session-goal）に変換する手法を使っていること （心拍の高強度滞在時間は3％だが、セッション目的では20％） https://t.co/RYrex8RFGa

Oct 22, 2021 · 4 likes · 1,761 followers View post →
Octópodo
@Jappy_octopus · X

Algo que no es nuevo, como entrenan los atletas de élite... entrenamiento polarizado... https://t.co/ECjVFrT7Rj

Jun 13, 2022 · 3 likes · 1,755 followers View post →
Ryusuke Honda@メディカルサイクリスト
@RyusukeHonda · X

参考文献 https://t.co/OSXSWyXWu6 https://t.co/wzEJJCGe6H https://t.co/uZhBVV93Yc

Oct 20, 2021 · 1 like · 1,211 followers View post →
小山 祐 Yu Koyama ⛷️
@koyas03 · X

@ryu_magu おはようございます！ この論文だと時間割合になってますね！私が読んだものだとセッション数でした。 セッション数比率だと高強度が多くできますよね！しかし、低強度TRで土台を作ってこそ高強度TRの効果が活きてくるというのがここ数年取り組んできた感覚です。 https://t.co/HfvfHtmLbv

Oct 19, 2021 · 1 like · 940 followers View post →
NYBO@NEXS journal club
@NYBO_NEXS_KU_DK · X

here and below relevant link to papers we mention in the talk: Quantifying training intensity distribution in elite endurance athletes: is there evidence for an ‘‘optimal’’ distribution? (find it via this https://t.co/iOnHN0xHaw - close to 1000 Google Scholar citations)

Feb 16, 2024 · 1 like · 279 followers View post →

All mentions

Manuel Bravo
@drmanolobravo · X

• Seiler, S., & Kjerland, G. Ø. (2006). Quantifying training intensity distribution in elite endurance athletes: is there evidence for an “optimal” distribution? Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 16(1), 49–56. • Seiler, S. (2010). What is best practice for https://t.co/KbGMGeBHDB

Aug 5, 2025 · 8,561 followers View post →
Liver Engine
@EngineLiver · X

@ChrisMasterjohn @B_Holmer @doctorinigo Wrong. Athletes have been coached to train polarized for multiple decades, and quite some literature has build up over the years that show this to be the optimal training distribution. See @StephenSeiler (https://t.co/dSVHojxZAP)

Oct 21, 2024 · 14 followers View post →
NYBO@NEXS journal club
@NYBO_NEXS_KU_DK · X

here and below relevant link to papers we mention in the talk: Quantifying training intensity distribution in elite endurance athletes: is there evidence for an ‘‘optimal’’ distribution? (find it via this https://t.co/iOnHN0xHaw - close to 1000 Google Scholar citations)

Feb 16, 2024 · 1 like · 279 followers View post →
Basis
@basis_health · X

@SirHerb_the3rd The 80/20 rule https://t.co/Twj2oVWJEt

Sep 14, 2022 · 3,731 followers View post →
Octópodo
@Jappy_octopus · X

Algo que no es nuevo, como entrenan los atletas de élite... entrenamiento polarizado... https://t.co/ECjVFrT7Rj

Jun 13, 2022 · 3 likes · 1,755 followers View post →
Eve Beavers is espacetimeCO
@espacetimeCO · X

@BenBikmanPhD this one is quantifying zone 2. that is important. https://t.co/Hx3aOUcBap

May 18, 2022 · 909 followers View post →
1Ø456
@pandayakiaki · X

Seilerが80:20で名を馳せたらしい2004の論文 明確に80:20はセッション頻度の話をしている むしろ面白いのは、生の心拍データを分析して、各セッションの目的強度（session-goal）に変換する手法を使っていること （心拍の高強度滞在時間は3％だが、セッション目的では20％） https://t.co/RYrex8RFGa

Oct 22, 2021 · 4 likes · 1,761 followers View post →
Ryusuke Honda@メディカルサイクリスト
@RyusukeHonda · X

参考文献 https://t.co/OSXSWyXWu6 https://t.co/wzEJJCGe6H https://t.co/uZhBVV93Yc

Oct 20, 2021 · 1 like · 1,211 followers View post →
小山 祐 Yu Koyama ⛷️
@koyas03 · X

@ryu_magu おはようございます！ この論文だと時間割合になってますね！私が読んだものだとセッション数でした。 セッション数比率だと高強度が多くできますよね！しかし、低強度TRで土台を作ってこそ高強度TRの効果が活きてくるというのがここ数年取り組んできた感覚です。 https://t.co/HfvfHtmLbv

Oct 19, 2021 · 1 like · 940 followers View post →
Mike
@michaelscally · X

Quantifying training intensity distribution in elite endurance athletes: is there evidence for an “optimal” distribution? https://t.co/hTqXonEJuE

Jul 29, 2021 · 892 followers View post →
A.Sawano
@AtsushiS16 · X

RT @NaoyaTakei0421: @marunet_ 少し調べました。まず、以下の研究でVT1(LT1)とVT2(LT2)の時の%VO2maxを調べたところ VT1=75%VO2max VT2=90%VO2maxくらいです。 https://t.co/3krlrXbO8z…

Feb 25, 2019 · 1 share · 233 followers View post →
竹井 尚也 TAKEI Naoya, PhD
@NaoyaTakei0421 · X

@marunet_ 少し調べました。まず、以下の研究でVT1(LT1)とVT2(LT2)の時の%VO2maxを調べたところ VT1=75%VO2max VT2=90%VO2maxくらいです。 https://t.co/3krlrXbO8z https://t.co/M4n2SxAvGM

Feb 25, 2019 · 7 likes · 1 share · 7,733 followers View post →