Therefore, an athlete with a solid base of endurance will fatigue less quickly, and will outwork other less trained athletes. While genetics and mental toughness contribute to fatigue tolerance, it’s highly trainable.įrom this, it’s clear that a key effect of training is being able to resist fatigue. The exact point where fatigue limits performance (tolerance level) varies and some athletes can endure much greater levels of fatigue than others. When fatigue reaches a certain point, an athlete’s work rate decreases. The primary factor that limits endurance exercise is fatigue. And the mental toughness or “grit” needed to achieve our peak performance. As such, the ability to compete strongly in endurance events is influenced by our physical fitness and psychological strengths.Įndurance training involves developing both general and event specific endurance. While this is massively influenced by physiological factors (efficiency of energy systems, aerobic capacity/ VO2 max, lactate threshold, muscle strength, power and muscular endurance) psychology also plays a key part in success in endurance sport. The fundamental requirement for any endurance sport is the ability to sustain a submaximal work rate for a prolonged period. What is an endurance sport?… An endurance sport is any sport in which there is a requirement to sustain an activity level while enduring a level of physical stress. In sport, endurance is the ability to sustain a specific activity ( endurance running, cycling, swimming, rowing, cross-country skiing etc) for a prolonged period.

We can define endurance as the ability to continue to endure a stress, hardship or level of suffering.

Endurance training