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Masimenko The Final Preparation Phase in The Decathlon PDF
Masimenko The Final Preparation Phase in The Decathlon PDF
IN THE DECATHLON
By G. Maksimenko et al
The complex demands of the different events involved in the decathlon make it
rather difficult to plan an optimal structure of the pre-competition preparations. It
is a well-known fact that many decathletes, who tolerate large training loads and
show high level results in nearly all events, still fail to repeat the performances at
important competitions. This was the reason for our retrospective analysis to find
out the preparations employed by high performance decathletes prior to
important competitions.
The diagrams show the dynamics of the training means employed in the phase
immediately prior to the climax competitions. The microcycles were taken into
account as from the climax competition, the training load is presented in
percentages, based on the averages of the training means in different yearly
cycles when they reached their maximal levels.
The main characteristics in the variation of the four-week structure of the training
loads (see fig. 1) are the maximal load parameters in the third microcycle,
followed by a smooth reduction of the training load until the start. The emphasis
in the fourth (restoration) microcycle is divided between speed and strength work.
The volume of the basic training means reaches its maximal value (65 to 75%) in
the third microcycle. It is reduced by about 20% in the second microcycle when
emphasis shifts to work in the maximal (100 to 96%.) and in the submaximal (95
to 91%) zones.
The structure of the six-week variation (see fig. 2) is based on reaching the
maximal load parameters (85 to 95%) during the third and fourth microcycles.
Emphasis is placed on the short sprint and throwing preparations in the fourth
and on the long sprint and the jumps in the third microcycle. The sixth and the
fifth microcycles have restoration characteristics, while the tasks to adjust the
organism for the climax competition take place with a smooth reduction of the
training load.
The following conclusions can be drawn from this analysis of highly qualified
decathletes during their final prepar
ati
onphasepr i
ortomeseason’ sclimax
competition.
1. Decathletes employ, according to the available time from the last start
prior to the climax competition, three main variations of the final
preparation. The three effective variations re made up from four, six or
eight microcycles.