The energy continuum and priming exercise

Overview

The energy continuum and thresholds, the 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 800 m, 1500 m, 5,000 m and marathon, the football midfielder and intermittent recovery, and priming exercise and the timing of a sprinter's warm-up.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is the energy continuum?

   Model answer

   The energy continuum shows how the three energy systems share ATP resynthesis across different activities. An activity's position depends on its intensity and duration.

2. 2

   Why is it wrong to say that one energy system works on its own?

   Model answer

   All three energy systems work at the same time throughout any activity. The continuum shows which system is dominant, not which is working alone.

3. 3

   What is meant by an energy system threshold?

   Model answer

   A threshold is the point at which one energy system can no longer be the main supplier of ATP. The next system then becomes dominant.

4. 4

   Where does the 100 m sprint sit on the energy continuum?

   Model answer

   The 100 m sits at the anaerobic extreme of the continuum. The ATP-PC system is dominant, with a glycolytic contribution in the final metres.

5. 5

   Where does the 400 m sit on the energy continuum, and why?

   Model answer

   The 400 m lasts about 45 to 60 seconds at near-maximal intensity. The glycolytic system is therefore the dominant provider.

6. 6

   Where does the 800 m sit on the energy continuum?

   Model answer

   The 800 m sits near the middle of the continuum. The glycolytic and aerobic systems both make large contributions.

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.