Thread: Energy Systems in Track

Cowpimp can you explain the difference in these two terms...200m run: 29% aerobic; 71% anaerobic

And what type of training promotes/develops each one.

What is to explain, 29% of the energy required oxygen and 71% didn't.

There are a variety of training methodologies that improve either one (Pace/Tempo, LSD, Lactate threshhold, Fartlek for aerobic; sprints and HIIT for anaerobic), HIIT seems to effectively tax both, however.

anaerobic= energy system not dependant upon oxygen (an= no; aerobic= oxygen). Think lifting weights at high to moderate intensities (70-100% of 1RM or you 1-12RM).

three types:
phosphagen- the quickest energy pathway. active at the start of all exercise. Used for exercises in duration of 4s or less. Short powerful explosive movents. think an olympic clean.
fast glycolosis (what some call anerobic glycolosis)- here pyruvate is converted into lactic acid to keep up with the energy demands needed in a short duration of time. Such as lifting weights.
slow glycolosis (that some call aerobic glycolosis since there is a contribution of oxygen to allow for glycolosis. This prevents pyruvate to be converted into lactic acid. Rather, it is transported into the mitocondria and converted into acytel CoA and then enters the Krebs cycle for further ATP production)....think 800m run.

aerobic= energy system that is dependant on oxygen. think distance running.

Originally Posted by ForemanRules

Cowpimp can you explain the difference in these two terms...200m run: 29% aerobic; 71% anaerobic

And what type of training promotes/develops each one.

First, you have the ATP and CP stores which have already accumulated in your muscle tissue. This energy system is anaerobic, and is completely exhausted in a very short time; somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-30 seconds. It is also regenerated very quickly. To train this energy system you should be performing extremely heavy lifting, all out sprinting, and explosive movements like olympic lifts.

Second, you have glycolysis, which can come from glucose in your blood. Glycogen stores can be broken down to raise blood sugar levels if needed. This energy system is anaerobic, and it is exhausted fairly quickly as well. Something 1-2 minutes is as long as this one can last. Properly implemented interval training is great to train this energy system and non-functional hypertrophy repetition ranges would be good examples of ways to train this energy system.

Next, you have the aerobic sources of energy: the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. The citric acid cycle is largely fueled by pyruvate created from glycolysis, so the two are interrelated to some degree. Although the citric acid cycle does produce some ATP, most of the ATP is produced indirectly as the citric acid cycle spawns large amounts of NADH and FADH2 to help power oxidative phosphorylation. The aerobic energy systems can provide energy for hours on end. To train this energy system you would want to use low to moderate intensity cardio for extended periods of time.

In reality, there is always some overlap of the usage of these energy systems. However, you can certainly shift the brunt of work between them as indicated by the aforementioned study.

Ah yes, I forgot to mention what Patrick referred to as fast glycolysis. This is also known as fermentation. It takes pyruvate and converts it into lactic acid in order to oxidize NADH into NAD+ to be recycled in the citric acid cycle.

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

What is to explain, 29% of the energy required oxygen and 71% didn't.

There are a variety of training methodologies that improve either one (Pace/Tempo, LSD, Lactate threshhold, Fartlek for aerobic; sprints and HIIT for anaerobic), HIIT seems to effectively tax both, however.

I want to thank everyone for their replies except Dale

Originally Posted by ForemanRules

I want to thank everyone for their replies except Dale