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Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) - the currency of energy. Its unstable nature as a molecule lends itself to liberation of potential energy and therefore fuelling work. Hydrolysis of ATP to ADP in the cell releases a great amount of energy.
Aerobic - In the presence of oxygen; aerobic metabolism utilizes oxygen.
Anaerobic - Literally, "without oxygen." Exercise that demands more oxygen than the heart and lungs can supply. Anaerobic contribution to energy turnover increases above the intensity of the lactate threshold.
Anaerobic-endurance - The ability to sustain work supported to a significant extent by anaerobic metabolism. Could be thought of as tolerance of exercise around and above the maximal lactate steady state (i.e. upper limit of lactate production / clearance balance).
Anaerobic work capacity - defined as the maximum amount of work that can be produced from anaerobic energy systems. Can be derived at the same time as the Critical Power from the power-time relationship.
Base Period - The period during which the basic abilities of endurance and efficiency are best developed. Often characterized by training of longer volume / lower intensity (below the lactate threshold).
Build Period - The specific preparation mesocycle during which high-intensity training in the form of zone 3 and zone 4 are emphasized.
Cadence- Revolutions or cycles per minute of the pedal stroke. Can also be used with running stride and swim stroke.
Critical Power/CP - The power you can sustain theoretically indefinitely, but in practice, an intensity approximating an effort you could hold for 20 to 40 minutes. In a mathematical sense, it is the asymptote of the relationship between power output and time you can hold that power.
Cross Training - Training for more than one sport during the same period of time.
Endurance - The ability to maintain exercise and resist fatigue. Technically, the proportion of the maximal aerobic power that can be sustained.
Ergogenic aids - any external influences which can positively affect physical or mental performance and include mechanical aids, pharmacological aids, physiological aids, nutritional aids, and psychological aids.
Fatigue - the inability to hold a given power. Technically, an increasing state from the beginning of exercise.
Fatigue index - the progressive and predictable decrease in power output as a sprint effort is made. Reported as the end power as a % of the peak power.
Fitness index - used by British Cycling to ascertain performance potential. Calculated by expressing maximal minute power relative to body mass 0.67 (to take into consideration expected lean body mass)
Force - The strength evident in a muscle or muscle group while exerting against a resistance.
Frequency - The number of times per week that one trains.
Glycogen - the body's storage form of carbohydrate. Broken down in the chemical reactions of glycolysis to liberate energy. The body's main energy source in exercise above the lactate threshold.
Heart Rate Training zones - classifying the training intensity by heart rate response relative to the physiological landmarks of lactate threshold and maximal aerobic power.
Heart rate variability (HRV) - a measure of the variations in heart rate, usually calculated by analyzing a time series of beat-to-beat intervals from an ECG.
Hypoxia - a reduced concentration of dissolved oxygen in the atmosphere. Commonly found at high altitudes.
Hypoxemia - deficiency in the concentration of oxygen in arterial blood. Not to be confused with hypoxia.
Incremental test - a progressively increasing workload under controlled conditions on an ergometer. A variety of stage durations and increments are used dependent on the aim of the test.
Intensity - The energy flux or rate of metabolism during exercise. Can be expressed in absolute terms (by power output or oxygen uptake) or relative to maximal aerobic power.
Interval training - A system of high-intensity work marked by short, but regularly repeated periods of hard exercise interspersed with periods of recovery.
Lactate threshold (LT) - The sudden and sustained increase in blood lactate concentration during progressively increased intensity exercise.
Lactate - Formed when lactic acid from the muscles enters the blood stream.
Lactic Acid - A by-product of the lactic acid system resulting from the incomplete breakdown of glucose (sugar) in the production of energy.
Maximal lactate steady state - the highest intensity that can be sustained with steady blood lactate levels. Often defined by an increase in blood lactate concentration of less than 1mM between minute 10 and 30 of a constant intensity test.
Maximal Minute Power (MMP) - the highest power held for one minute in a ramp test. Used as a gold standard in cycling performance by British Cycling.
Maximal oxygen uptake - The highest oxygen consumption over a period of one minute, achieved during maximal exertion. Also known as the maximal aerobic power. Expressed as either litres of oxygen per minute (L.min-1) or mililitres of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute (ml.kg-1min-1).
Mesocycle - A period of training generally two to six weeks long.
Microcycle - A period of training of approximately one week.
Muscular Endurance/ ME - The ability of a muscle or muscle group to perform repeated contractions for a long period of time while bearing a load.
Overreaching - A temporary condition following hard periods of training without due consideration to recovery. Will lead to overtraining if continued.
Overtraining - Extreme fatigue, both physical and mental, caused by extensively training at a work load higher than that to which the body can readily adapt. Different to over-reaching in that a 2 week break from training does not return performance to expected levels.
Peak - The mesocycle during which volume of training is intentionally reduced and intensity increased in order to allow the athlete maximize performance.
Peak power - The highest power output during a sprint test, often observed during the first 5 sec of exercise. Indicates the energy generating capacity of the immediate energy system (intramuscular high energy phosphates ATP and PC).
Periodization - The process of structuring the training year into periods, often separated out as Preparation, Base, Build, Race and Transition.
Power - The ability resulting from force and speed.
Preparation Period - The mesocycle during which the athlete begins to train for the oncoming season; usually marked byless structure and the use of cross-training and low loads.
Pyramid - a training session where the time period of each interval is systematically increased / decreased with each rep.
Race Period - The mesocycle which contains the athletes high-priority races and where training load is greatly decreased.
Ramp test - An fast incremental test, with rapid increases in intensity. Best used for determination of ventilatory threshold and maximal oxygen uptake
Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) - A subjective assessment of how hard one is working.
Recovery Interval - The relief period between work intervals within an interval workout.
Recovery - period of time where emphasis is on adaptation and the stimulus of training is removed temporarily.
Redline - a training session which involves training above and below the maximal lactate steady state for defined work / ‘rest' periods. Intensity is held close to the MLSS, not as in traditional interval work where the rest time is at far lower intensities.
Repetition Maximum (RM) - The maximum load that a muscle group can lift in one attempt. Also called "one-repetition maximum" (1RM).
Repetition - The number of times a task, such as a work interval or lifting of a weight, is repeated.
Set - A group of repetitions.
Specificity - The theory that training must stress the same systems in training as those critical for optimal performance.
Tapering - A period of training that sees a reduction in volume but maintenance of frequency and intensity prior to a major competition.
Tempo training - a training intensity at and around the maximal lactate steady state.
Training Zone - A level of intensity based on an individual's capacity for work such as heart rate or power.
Transition Period - The mesocycle during which the work load and structure of training are greatly reduced allowing physical and psychological recovery from training and racing.
Ventilatory Threshold (VT) - The point during progressive exercise where respiratory changes first occur. More specifically, when ventilation increases above and beyond the increase in oxygen uptake. Corresponds to the lactate threshold.
VO2max - abbreviation for the maximal oxygen uptake.
Volume - A quantitative measure of training calculated using the combination of duration and frequency. Measured in miles or hours of training.
Warm up - The period of gradually increasing intensity of exercise at the start of a training session.
Workload - Measured stress applied in training through the combination of frequency, intensity, and duration.
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