Examples: playing a game of soccer; running a marathon; competing in a triathlon; cycling in a road race; a 2-hour training
session in swimming.
Important Features The factors concerned with this class of activity are similar to those of the previous classification. What does become increasingly important is the ability to spare and conserve energy resources so that glycogen depletion does not occur during the performance. A large amount of energy will be supplied through fat metabolism but glycogen will still be used to a lesser degree. However, since the body only has sufficient stored carbohydrates to fuel about 90 minutes of work (120 minutes under carbohydrate-loaded conditions) there still is the possibility that glycogen supplies can be exhausted. Diet and the type of training that is followed will be critical for fine-tuning the relative use of fat and glycogen for aerobic work.
Temperature regulation, heat acclimatization, clothing, diet, fluid replacement, altitude, pollution, and fatigue are features which moderate the level of training quality and volume as well as competitive performances. Appropriate adjustments and acclimatization procedures need to be taken to minimize the impact of these factors.
Of all the activity classifications
prolonged events require the greatest amount of training. This means that psychological factors, particularly motivation, goal-setting, feedback, and knowledge of progress will be very influential for maintaining a sustained application to training. Psychological problems and overuse injuries are usually indicators of an overtrained state. The monitoring of the adaptive responses of athletes to the training volumes and frequencies is particularly important to avoid overtraining.
The skill of performing the task-relevant activities still remains an ominous factor for determining ultimate success in prolonged events. As athletes mature and their physiological capacities no longer develop, performances can still improve further because of changes in skill and efficiency of movement. These features should become the major focus of training once a training work-ethic and extensive history of training have been established in mature athletes.