Study note • PMID 29721101
The effect of aging on pacing strategies of cross-country skiers and the role of performance level.
Worth trying if it fits your goal and context.
ELI5
In plain language
BACKGROUND: The participation of master cross-country (XC) skiers in training and competition has increased during the last decades; however, little is known yet about whether these athletes differ from… (controlled study; n=79 athletes).
The abstract doesn’t indicate a clear change in Time-trial performance under the tested conditions. Treat this as a signal, not a guarantee; confirm methods and context in the full paper.
Takeaways
What the abstract suggests
- • Study question: BACKGROUND: The participation of master cross-country (XC) skiers in training and competition has increased during the last decades; however, little is known yet about whether these athletes differ from…
- • The abstract doesn’t indicate a clear change in Time-trial performance under the tested conditions.
- • Population: n=79 athletes.
- • Protocol cues (title/abstract): 4 h • 5 h • 13 h • 11 h • 10 h.
Protocol
Protocol (as reported)
- • Intervention/exposure: pacing, even pacing.
- • Dose/time/duration cues in abstract/title: 4 h • 5 h • 13 h • 11 h • 10 h.
- • Outcomes: Time-trial performance.
- • Replication note: abstracts often omit adherence and timing; confirm details before changing training or supplementation.
Fit
Who it helps, and who should skip it
Who it helps
- • Athletes similar to the study population (n=79 athletes) working on pacing.
- • Athletes who can measure Time-trial performance with a repeatable workout or time-trial effort.
Who should skip
- • If you have symptoms or conditions that make the intervention risky, get professional guidance.
- • If you’re near race day and can’t safely test, defer the experiment.
Methods
What the study actually did
- • Design: controlled study.
- • Population: n=79 athletes.
- • Outcomes measured: Time-trial performance.
- • Protocol cues mentioned: 4 h • 5 h • 13 h • 11 h • 10 h.
- • Source: PubMed PMID 29721101 (2018) — European review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity.
Results excerpt
What the abstract reports
“These findings suggest that exercise attenuates the decline of performance in master XC skiers as shown by the similar pacing strategies between fast master XC skiers and their younger counterparts.”
Note: excerpts are short; for full context, read the paper.
Limits
Limitations & bias
- • Abstract-only summaries can miss critical details (population, protocol, adherence, and context).
- • Single studies often don’t generalize to your event, history, and training load; treat results as a starting point.
- • If your context differs (elite vs recreational; cycling vs running), adjust expectations and be conservative.
- • This is performance information, not medical advice.
Coaching beta
Get a plan that adapts to your life.
Join the 26weeks.ai TestFlight beta for adaptive coaching, recovery-aware adjustments, and race-week reminders.
Keep going
Performance Science Lab
Research-backed protocols and evidence grades for endurance performance — built for athletes.
Pacing performance research
Pacing is applied physiology: the best plan fails if you spend your budget early.
Caffeine for endurance performance: a practical protocol
Evidence-informed protocol: Caffeine for endurance performance: a practical protocol. Practical steps, who it helps, and what to watch out for.
Time-trial performance research for endurance athletes
Practical performance outcome used in many studies: closer to racing than lab-only metrics.