ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the application of training load quantification in both endurance sports and research and summarises the most relevant external and internal workload measures in endurance sports. It provides practical examples of their implementation in the context of altitude training to adjust the training programmes of elite athletes in accordance to their individualised recovery-stress balance. Performance in most endurance events is determined largely by the maximal sustained power production for a given competition distance and the energy cost of maintaining a given racing speed. The issue of optimal training intensity distribution to enhance physiological adaptation and performance is a perennial one. Both external and internal loads have merit for understanding and athlete’s training load and training adaptations, and a combination of both is important for training monitoring and performance prediction. Endurance athletes need to prioritise recovery, both physical and mental, to ensure they meet the demands required of them without overtraining.
