Energy System Interplay worksheet:

Elite Male 1500m runner:

A 1500m run, is a predominantly aerobic activity due to its duration of around three and
three-quarter minutes, and its submaximal intensity.
At the beginning of the run, all three of the energy systems start contributing to the
resynthesis of ATP. For the first couple of steps of the run, the ATP-PC system will be
dominant. As the intensity of the run is lower than maximal, the PC depletion will not be as
rapid as a maximal intensity activity. Replenishment of the PC stores will not occur until the
activity has ended, and the athlete goes into passive recovery.
From approximately 5 seconds into the race, when the PC stores are around 50% depleted,
the anaerobic glycolysis system will increase its contribution to become the major producer
of ATP for resynthesis. This will continue until around the 500m mark. While this is
happening, there is a steady, gradual increase in the levels of muscle lactate and hydrogen
ions as these are by-products that are produced from this system. The accumulation of
these hydrogen ions, increases the muscle acidity, decreasing the pH and impedes on the
myosin and actin in the muscle sarcomere from joining together. This slows the athlete
down as their muscular contractions cannot be as fast or as forceful.
At the approximately 500m mark (around 75 seconds) the contribution to ATP resynthesis
from the anaerobic glycolysis system and the aerobic system will be almost 50:50. This is
due to sufficient oxygen reaching the working muscles. From this point onwards, the aerobic
system increases its contribution and remains dominant for the rest of the race.
At the 1000-1250m mark, the by-products of the anaerobic glycolysis system have built up
and surpassed the lactate inflection point, meaning that less lactic acid can be removed
from the muscles. This explains why the athlete slowed down during this 250m part of the
race.
In the last 250m of the race, the runner sprints towards the finish line. While the aerobic
system remains dominant, the anaerobic glycolysis system increases its contribution to
allow the runner to run at a higher intensity and speed towards the finish line.

AFL Midfielder versus Soccer Goalkeeper:

An AFL midfielder does a lot of running up and down the field, whereas a soccer goalkeeper
does not run around nearly as much, they do more short, explosive movements. It is for
these reasons that the energy system contribution for each athlete is quite different.
The ATP-PC system predominantly likes to power explosive, quick movements, and is the
first system dominant in exercise. This is quickly taken over by the anaerobic glycolysis
system, after about 5 seconds. The high percentage (80%) of ATP-PC contribution the soccer
goalkeeper has, shows that most of his activity is short in duration, less than 5 seconds long.
The AFL midfielder has a lower percentage contribution of ATP-PC because his activity is
more continuous and lasts longer than 5 seconds, after the 5 seconds the ATP-PC system
must decrease its contribution due to the partial to full depletion of ATP.
The anaerobic system increases its contribution to become dominant at the approximate
5second mark. The AFL midfielder has a 40% contribution from this system and this is due to
the explosive running, that is extended past the 5 second mark, the soccer goalkeeper has a
small percentage of 15% for the anaerobic glycolysis system as they do not spend much
more than 5 seconds at a time doing strenuous exercise. After approximately 60 seconds,
the aerobic system becomes the dominant system, as lactic acid and hydrogen ions
accumulate in the muscle. The AFL midfielder has a 45% contribution of this energy system,
showing that they are doing extended efforts past one minute in duration. The soccer
goalkeeper however, only has a 5% contribution from this energy system, showing that his
efforts are not a minute in duration and that the contribution of the aerobic system is likely
during rests, (when the ball is down the other end of the field, or when the athlete is
standing still).

Beep test vs 20 min run vs Netball centre vs Netball goalkeeper

The beep test is a continuous activity for as long as the person can continue, it usually lasts
around 3-5 minutes. This duration makes it a predominantly aerobic activity. A 20min run is
a submaximal intensity activity and due to this and its duration it is also a predominantly
aerobic activity. A netball centre does a lot of changing intensities throughout the game.
The quarters are normally 15 minutes long, meaning that the netball centre is a
predominantly aerobic activity with a high contribution also from the anaerobic glycolysis
system. A netball goalkeeper does a lot of high intensity, short duration bursts of activity
and it is therefore a predominantly anaerobic activity.
When exercise begins, while all three systems are activated and always working, the ATP-PC
system is dominant. This system will be dominant longer in the beep test, 20min run and
netball goalkeeper rather than the netball centre as their intensities are lower, allowing the
stored PC to last longer.
The anaerobic glycolysis system increases its contribution to become dominant, after the
ATP-PC system is approximately 50% depleted. This system is usually dominant until around
the 60second mark. In the beep test, it will likely be longer as the intensity is not that great
until later on. The lactic acid and hydrogen ions that are produced by this system are likely
to cause muscle fatigue at this point.
When sufficient oxygen reaches the working muscles, the aerobic system is increasing its
contribution to become the dominant system. It will likely stay dominant for any point after
this, while the anaerobic glycolysis system may increase its contribution or lower it
dependent on the intensity of the activity. The netball centre will likely have a high
anaerobic glycolysis system contribution throughout the effort as their intensity is
constantly changing dependent on the game. The netball goalkeeper will keep a high
contribution of the anaerobic glycolysis system as well due to their explosive, high intensity
bursts of activity to defend the goal.