Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Optimal pacing strategy: from theoretical modelling to reality in 1500-m speed skating
  1. F J Hettinga1,2,
  2. J J De Koning1,3,
  3. L J I Schmidt1,
  4. N A C Wind1,
  5. B R MacIntosh4,
  6. C Foster3
  1. 1Research Institute MOVE, Department of Human Movement Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  2. 2Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen/University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
  3. 3Department of Exercise and Sports Science, University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA
  4. 4Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
  1. Correspondence to Florentina J Hettinga, Center for Human movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen/University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, Groningen 9713, The Netherlands; f.j.hettinga{at}med.umcg.nl

Abstract

Purpose Athletes are trained to choose the pace which is perceived to be correct during a specific effort, such as the 1500-m speed skating competition. The purpose of the present study was to “override” self-paced (SP) performance by instructing athletes to execute a theoretically optimal pacing profile.

Methods Seven national-level speed-skaters performed a SP 1500-m which was analysed by obtaining velocity (every 100 m) and body position (every 200 m) with video to calculate total mechanical power output. Together with gross efficiency and aerobic kinetics, obtained in separate trials, data were used to calculate aerobic and anaerobic power output profiles. An energy flow model was applied to SP, simulating a range of pacing strategies, and a theoretically optimal pacing profile was imposed in a second race (IM).

Results Final time for IM was ∼2 s slower than SP. Total power distribution per lap differed, with a higher power over the first 300 m for IM (637.0 (49.4) vs 612.5 (50.0) W). Anaerobic parameters did not differ. The faster first lap resulted in a higher aerodynamic drag coefficient and perhaps a less effective push-off.

Conclusion Experienced athletes have a well-developed performance template, and changing pacing strategy towards a theoretically optimal fast start protocol had negative consequences on speed-skating technique and did not result in better performance.

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests None.

  • Ethics approval The approval was obtained from the University of Calgary Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

  • Patient consent Obtained.