What does external load refer to in training assessment?

What does external load refer to in training assessment?

• A. The athlete's perception of effort.
• B. The work performed by the athlete as measured by metrics like distance, velocity, or external resistance.
• C. The time between sets.
• D. The resting heart rate.

Answer: (B)

External load is the measurable physical work the athlete performs during a training task. It refers to the actual demand placed on the body that you can quantify from the outside: distance covered, velocity or pace, and external resistance like weight lifted, sprint speed, or incline. This is distinct from internal load, which reflects how hard the body feels or responds to that work—perceived exertion or physiological markers like heart rate. The other options describe the athlete’s internal response or a non-load factor (time between sets), not the external work itself. So external load is the objective work performed, as captured by those external metrics.

External load is the measurable physical work the athlete performs during a training task. It refers to the actual demand placed on the body that you can quantify from the outside: distance covered, velocity or pace, and external resistance like weight lifted, sprint speed, or incline. This is distinct from internal load, which reflects how hard the body feels or responds to that work—perceived exertion or physiological markers like heart rate. The other options describe the athlete’s internal response or a non-load factor (time between sets), not the external work itself. So external load is the objective work performed, as captured by those external metrics.