Global Positioning System Watches and Electronic Journals: Are Training-Load Measures Similar in High School Cross-Country Runners?
Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2022;
17:1132-1139. [PMID:
35606093 DOI:
10.1123/ijspp.2021-0563]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
Running programs are designed to progress training loads by manipulating the duration, frequency, and/or intensity of running sessions. While some studies use journals to monitor training load, others have used wearable technology. The purpose of this study was to compare the validity of self-reported and global positioning system (GPS)-watch-derived measures of external and internal loads in high school cross-country runners.
METHODS
Twenty-two high school cross-country runners participated in the study during fall 2020. Participants recorded running sessions using a GPS watch and self-reported the running session using an electronic journal. External (distance and duration) and internal loads (session rating of perceived exertion [sRPE], average, and maximum heart rate) were retrieved from the GPS watch and electronic journal. Correlations compared relationships, and Bland-Altman plots compared agreements between GPS-watch-derived and self-reported measures of training loads.
RESULTS
We found moderate relationships between self-reported and GPS-watch-derived measures of external loads (distance: r = .76, moving duration: r = .74, and elapsed duration: r = .70) and poor relationships between internal loads (sRPE vs average heart rate: ρ = .11, sRPE vs maximal heart rate: ρ = .13). We found mean differences of -0.8 km (95% = -6.3 to +4.8 km) for distance, -4.5 minutes (95% = -27.8 to +33.2 min) for moving duration, and 2.7 minutes (95% = -27.8 min to +33.2 min) for elapsed duration.
CONCLUSIONS
High school runners overreported running distance and duration using self-reports, and self-reported and GPS-watch-derived measures of internal loads demonstrated poor agreement. Coaches and clinicians should use caution when comparing results from studies using different methods of monitoring training loads.
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