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Reliability and stability of performances in 400-m swimming and 1500-m running

Mytton, Graham, Archer, David, St Clair Gibson, Alan and Thompson, Kevin (2014) Reliability and stability of performances in 400-m swimming and 1500-m running. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 9 (4). pp. 674-679. ISSN 1555-0265

Item Type: Article

Abstract

PURPOSE:
To assess the reliability and stability of 400-m swimming and 1500-m running competitions to establish the number of samples needed to obtain a stable pacing profile. Coaches, athletes, and researchers can use these methods to ensure that sufficient data are collected before training and race strategies are constructed or research conclusions are drawn.

METHOD:
Lap times were collected from 5 world and European championship finals between 2005 and 2011, resulting in the capture of data from 40 swimmers and 55 runners. A cumulative mean for each lap was calculated, starting with the most recent data, and the number of races needed for this to stabilize to within 1% was reported. Typical error for each lap was calculated for athletes who had competed in more than 1 final.

RESULTS:
International swimmers demonstrated more reproducible performances than runners in 3 of the 4 laps of the race (P < .01). Variance in runners' lap times significantly decreased by 1.7-2.7% after lap 1, whereas variance in swimmers' lap times tended to increase by 0.1-0.5% after lap 1. To establish a stable profile, at least ten 400-m swimmers and forty-four 1500-m runners must be included.

CONCLUSIONS:
A stable race profile was observed from the analysis of 5 events for 1500-m running and 3 events for 400-m swimming. Researchers and athletes can be more certain about the pacing information collected from 400-m swimming than 1500-m running races, as the swimming data are less variable, despite both events being of similar duration.

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More Information

Depositing User: David Archer

Identifiers

Item ID: 4376
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2013-0240
ISSN: 1555-0265
URI: http://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/4376
Official URL: http://journals.humankinetics.com/ijspp

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Catalogue record

Date Deposited: 29 Oct 2013 11:41
Last Modified: 18 Dec 2019 15:36

Contributors

Author: Graham Mytton
Author: David Archer
Author: Alan St Clair Gibson
Author: Kevin Thompson

University Divisions

Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing
Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing > School of Nursing and Health Sciences

Subjects

Sciences > Sport Sciences

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