Introduction: Active athletes train regularly to achieve optimal physical fitness. Excessive training can lead to overtraining in athletes. Heart rate recovery after standardized moderate exercise, which athletes repeat during regular training sessions, could be a good indicator of athlete's physical fitness and potential overtraining. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the correlation between heart rate recovery (fSUO) after standardized moderate exercise (SZV) and training intensity in young active runners. Methods: The study involved 7 young active runners (3 males and 4 females). For each participant, 4 measurements of SZV were performed. The protocol consisted of 3 phases: 1) 5-minute resting, 2) progressive fSUO on cycloergometer, 3) passive recovery. fSUO was measured at 30, 60, and 120 seconds after SZV, along with the rating of perceived exertion using a 15-point scale (LON). Changes in fSUO at 30, 60, and 120 seconds after fSUO were statistically analyzed. With training impulse method (MVD), based on the Banister model and modified models, the athlete's physical load due to regular training sessions was assessed. The coefficient of variaion in measured variables was used to track the changing physiological response to SZV during regular training program. Results: All measured physiological variables changed during training program. The coefficient of variation for fSUO60 was similar magnitude as LON, the highest for fSUO30, although it was not normally distributed, and the smallest for fSUO120. Regarding ΔfSUO60, we found a moderate negative correlation with ΔMVD2 (r = -0.362), while for ΔLON, there was a moderate to strong correlation with both ΔMVD (r = -0.393) and ΔLON2 (r = -0.506). The correlation test confirmed a positive linear correlation among all indicators of training program intensity. Discussion and conclusion: Based on the results, we found that fSUO after SZV changes and both ΔfSUO60 and ΔLON are statistically significantly associated with training intensity. It can be inferred that deviations from this association might indicate overtraining. To confirm this, future studies should consider using a larger sample size, extending the measurement period, and increasing the intensity of participants' training.
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