Sports Science Glossary
Key terms in exercise physiology, training science, and endurance sport. 184 terms with definitions.
A
Aerobic threshold (LT1): The exercise intensity at which blood lactate first rises above resting levels. Below this point, lactate production equals clearance.
Anaerobic threshold (LT2): The intensity at which lactate accumulation exceeds clearance. Above this point, exercise duration is sharply limited.
ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate): The universal energy currency of cells. All muscular contraction requires ATP.
C-E
Cardiac output: Heart rate × stroke volume. The total volume of blood pumped per minute. Increases from ~5 L/min at rest to 25-35 L/min during maximal exercise in trained athletes.
Central governor: Tim Noakes’ theory that the brain limits exercise performance before physiological failure occurs, as a protective mechanism.
EPOC: Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption. Elevated metabolic rate following exercise.
L-P
Lactate shuttle: George Brooks’ discovery that lactate is not a waste product but an energy substrate transported between cells.
Mitochondria: Cellular organelles that produce ATP via oxidative phosphorylation. Endurance training increases mitochondrial density by 50-100%.
Polarized training: Training distribution where ~80% of volume is low intensity and ~20% is high intensity, with minimal time at moderate intensity.
R-V
Running economy: The oxygen cost of running at a given speed. Better economy = less oxygen needed = faster sustainable pace.
VO₂ max: Maximum rate of oxygen consumption. The gold standard measure of aerobic capacity.
Full glossary with 184 terms available in the Turkish version.
This topic is covered in depth in the THRESHOLD book.
THRESHOLD — On Fatigue, Endurance, and the Limits of the Body
540 pages · 22 chapters · 275 scientific references