TWO MINUTES IS TOO SHORT TO FULLY USE ANAEROBIC CAPACITY
De Konig, J. J., Hettinga, F. J., Foster, C., Lampen, J., & Bobbert, M. F. (2004). Can anaerobic capacity be fully utilized in two minutes of supramaximal speed skating exercise? Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 36(5), Supplement abstract 122.
Elite speed skaters (N = 8) performed a 1,500 m speed skating race (lasting ~2 minutes) and submaximal efficiency tests. Pairs of skaters also performed 500, 1,000, 3,000, and 5,000 m depending on their specializations. External energy production was estimated from a variety of sources. Aerobic energy production was measured directly.
The amount of anaerobic energy is considerable for every distance.
THE PERCENT OF TOTAL ENERGY ATTRIBUTABLE TO ANAEROBIC ENERGY PRODUCTION
|
Distance |
500 m |
1,000 m |
1,500 m |
5,000 m |
10,000 m |
|
% of total as Anaerobic Energy |
70.7% |
51.3% |
43.7% |
21.9% |
24.8% |
Implication. Distances less than 1,500 m are too short to fully use anaerobic capacity. Anaerobic work is a substantial part of all competitive speed skating distances.
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