What type of training improves endurance and is essential for long-distance athletes?

Aerobic training is crucial for improving endurance, particularly for long-distance athletes. This type of training involves prolonged activity that increases the heart rate and promotes efficient oxygen use by the body. Activities like running, cycling, swimming, and rowing fall under this category and are designed to enhance the aerobic capacity, endurance, and overall cardiovascular health.

Long-distance athletes benefit from aerobic training because it helps to build a robust cardiovascular system, leading to better oxygen delivery to the muscles during extended periods of exercise. Enhanced aerobic fitness also allows these athletes to sustain their performance longer without fatigue, making it fundamental to their training regimen.

In contrast, strength training focuses on building muscle power, anaerobic training emphasizes short bursts of high-intensity exercises that do not use oxygen as the primary energy source, and flexibility training concentrates on improving the range of motion in the joints. While all these training types contribute to an athlete's overall fitness, none directly enhance endurance for long-distance activities like aerobic training does.