Is the
100 meter sprint an endurance event?
This is a copy of
a post made on the RunTex training and racing tips forum, posted with
permission from the author, Marshall Burt. Marshall comments are in
reply to our discussion of the most recent research showing that sprint
training results in aerobic adaptations. See the articles
The
Surprising Aerobic Benefit of Sprinting and
More Research on the Aerobic Benefit of Sprinting for background
detail on this topic. I recommend you give considerable thought to
this topic.
“Little data exist that specifically and accurately
evaluate energy system contributions…………Considerable information can be
found that attempts to do so, but this has generally been based on data in
the 1970’s that inappropriately used oxygen debt to quantify anaerobic
energy release.”
“The crossover to predominately aerobic energy system supply occurred
between ----15 and 30 seconds---- for the 400, 800, and 1500 meter
events.”
“These results suggest that the relative contribution of the aerobic
energy system during track running events is considerable and greater than
traditionally thought.”
Energy System Contribution During 200 To 1500 Meter Running In Highly
Trained Athletes
Medicine & Science In Sports & Exercise………Volume 33 #1…….January
2001……..page 157
-----------Moving Forward---------------
The title of this thread ["More Sprint Research"] is representative of a
change in human knowledge about human cellular function. Anyone willing to
accept that change, must now make the next step in applying that updated
knowledge.
That requires one to engage in the next step of thinking and reasoning,
which is to ask the broad question;
----- how does this information change how we should look at human
performance in track running events.
In my opinion, the way to think through that question is to look into the
current psychology of our sport, which says that there are sprint events,
and there are endurance events, they are separate entities. In the context
of the title of this thread, and what has been presented on this thread,
we are required to look at that assumption in a critical thinking manner.
The question to ask at this point is;
------- Is the 100 meter dash an endurance event. Yes, or no?
To answer that question, look at the 10 meter splits of the top 100 meter
sprinters in the world in the finals of each World Championship and
Olympic Games since the mid-1980’s. Has it been demonstrated that the
athletes get slower from the 80 or 90 meter mark to the finish, and do
many of them slow from the 60 meter mark to the finish.
The answer is yes. Thus, the 100 meter event is an endurance race. This
statement is consistent with both the title of this thread, the content of
information in this thread, and the reality of the split times of the 100
meter dash.
Its also consistent with what we’ve seen with the advent of Carl Lewis and
subsequent top sprinters replacing the bulked up footballers of
yester-year. In today’s world, a sprinter is as likely to look like a
middle distance runner as they would a football player [ie. Frank
Fredricks 150 lbs., ran 19.66 at 200 meters, 9.86 100 meters]
If the 100 meter dash is an endurance race, then it must follow that each
of the races below is an endurance race;
--- 100 meters
--- 200 meters
--- 400 meters
--- 800 meters
--- 1500 meters/mile
--- 5000 meters
--- 10,000 meters
--- Marathon
Looking at these events from this perspective requires that we look at
them as a continuum, rather than as separate events, sprint….vs….endurance.
If all of these events are endurance races, then it must follow that all
have either similar or the same Major mechanisms of performance. I assert
that they all share the same [-3-] Major mechanisms of performance
1 --- How many muscle fibers can you recruit
2 --- How quickly can you recruit them
3 --- How long can you maintain a high level of recruitment
In terms of the remainder of this century, at this point one can place
oneself in a position to re-visit the broad question of;
------- how does this information change how we should look at human
performance in track running events.