All Priming Activities Lead to the Finish Line: Pacing and Biomechanical Responses in Endurance Runners

Background: Warm-up routines are used to prepare neuromuscular systems for upcoming tasks or to improve performance. We investigated the acute effects of back squat postactivation potentiation enhancement (PAPE) conditioning activities (strength-oriented [PAPE STR ] versus power-oriented [PAPE POW ]) on 800-meter running performance, biomechanics, and neuromuscular variables in endurance runners. Hypothesis: Both PAPE STR and PAPE POW would elicit superior performance compared with the control, with no differences between the 2 experimental protocols. Study Design: Randomized crossover design. Level of Evidence: Level 2. Methods: A total of 12 male athletes previously trained for middle- to long-distance running underwent PAPE STR (90% 1-repetition maximum [1RM]), PAPE POW (60% 1RM), and control (PAPE CON ). In all experimental sessions, participants performed countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), and running biomechanics tests at baseline. Afterward, a potentiation protocol was employed (PAPE STR , PAPE POW , or PAPE CON ) and in sequence, participants performed the 800-meter running performance maximum test 5 minutes after completing the experimental conditions. Immediately after the 800-meter running performance test in all conditions, the neuromuscular and biomechanical tests were repeated. Results: No differences were observed among conditioning strategies related to 800-meter running performance, pacing, and most biomechanical variables ( P > 0.05). In turn, the leg stiffness decreased after PAPE POW ( P = 0.01). No significant effects were detected ( P > 0.05) in general for neuromuscular variables, except a higher, peak bar velocity for PAPE POW ( P < 0.001) compared with the other conditions. Conclusion: Acute strength or power-oriented back squat protocols did not affect 800-meter running performance compared with the control condition. Clinical Relevance: Coaches and athletes could select a feasible conditioning activity with the available equipment in training or competition locations to induce similar results.