Use of Tabata Protocal for Anaerobic Field Testing

[Guest guest]

I work with quite a few endurance athletes/participants in the areas

backpacking, mountaineering, trail running, mountain biking and

paddling. I've been integrating more Tabata training protocol intervals

(8 cycles of 20 seconds hard followed by 10 seconds recovery) in their

training lately on cardio machines like the Versaclimber, s Ladder

and Rowing Ergometer. Each time the person does the training protocol

(2-4 times per week) I have them record the total distance traveled

during the Tabata period. I try to have them increase this distance

travel from successive sessions.

I don't have very much data on this but

I am wondering if any objective comparisons could be made from athlete

to athlete. For example, two mountaineers do a Tabata on the Versa

Climber and one goes 550 feet in the 4 minutes and the other person goes

450 feet. I'm curious if others have tried to make some sort of

objective linkage between Tabata results and Anaerobic conditioning? I

realize this is not very " scientific " as body weight, heart rate and

other factors are not taken into account. I'm purposely trying to come

up with an evaluation that repeatable, easy to do on your own and

reliable. I do think that sport specificity is important and that the

type of test use should be as close to the activity as possible. For

example a rowing ergometer probably would not be as applicable to a

cyclist compared to a cycle test.

All comments and feedback are welcome.

Doug Schurman

Seattle, WA