Figure 4. Training volume, muscle soreness and serum markers of overreaching during week 9. Training volume was not altered within or between groups during week 9 (panel a). Interestingly, subjective delayed onset of muscle soreness scores (DOMS) decreased in all groups during week 9 (panel b). Select serum markers of overreaching (cortisol, panel c; C-reactive protein, panel d; interleukin-6, panel e) were not altered within or between groups during week 9.