Author(s): SMITH, M., SNYDER, M., KRAUS, E., COLEMAN, T., Institution: STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Country: UNITED STATES, Abstract-ID: 2419

INTRODUCTION:
Peak performance in team sport is targeted to specific competitive phases, yet physiological characteristics of successful competitive peaking remain poorly defined in applied settings. Despite widespread use of athlete monitoring, few longitudinal studies have integrated biomarker and perceptual recovery responses across an entire competitive season in real-world team sport environments. This study examined longitudinal changes in inflammatory, metabolic, and perceptual recovery responses to standardized training across preseason, in-season, and peak phases.
METHODS:
Twenty-two female collegiate rowers (18–23 y) completed testing during preseason, in-season, and peak phases defined by coaching staff. At each phase, athletes performed a standardized training bout (2 × 5 km). Capillary blood was collected at rest, immediately post-exercise, and 24 h post to assess lactate and C-reactive protein (CRP). Saliva was collected for lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH). Perceived recovery status and rating of fatigue scales were collected pre- and post-exercise at each phase. Longitudinal mixed-effects models evaluated phase-dependent responses.
RESULTS:
A significant phase × time interaction was observed for lactate (p < 0.001), demonstrating season phase-dependent differences in acute metabolic recovery kinetics. No phase × time interaction was observed for CRP (p = 0.57), although a phase trend was present (p = 0.075). LDH demonstrated a main effect of time (p = 0.03) but no phase interaction. Perceived recovery and fatigue demonstrated main effects of exercise state (both p < 0.001) and phase × state interactions (recovery p = 0.007; fatigue p < 0.001), indicating season-dependent perceptual recovery responses to standardized training stress.
CONCLUSION:
Competitive season progression was associated with coordinated adaptations in metabolic and perceptual recovery dynamics. Faster lactate recovery and phase-specific perceptual responses suggest efficient resolution of acute training stress and represent a defining physiological feature of successful competitive peaking in team sport. Recovery optimization observed during the peak competitive phase, coinciding with maximal team performance outcomes, supports integrated biomarker and perceptual monitoring as a practical framework for contextualizing performance readiness and informing training decisions during critical competitive periods. Rapid restoration of acute training stress may represent a defining physiological characteristic of successful competitive peaking in team sport athletes.