Question

An athlete is running a 5 mile race. Describe which energy system(s) will be utilized during this event and if/how they will interact. A model answer would include duration, substrates, and limiting factors for the energy systems.

Answer 1

Consider a aerobic phase in the 5 mile run, in this situation, the person uses glucose in the presence of oxygen for production of energy. In this phase, the oxygen, enzymes and availability of glucose work as the limiting factors. The lesser the resources are, the lesser is the energy produced.

With an increase in the intensity and finishing of available glucose resources, glycogen is broken down and used in form of glucose. In low intensity workout, glycogenesis is not stimulated and thus, this causes use of available fatty acids and fats for breakdown and production of energy.

Further, fats are approached in high intensity workout. In this condition.

Another system is phosphogen synthase, which produces high energy system. Fuels used are creatine phosphate and stored ATP.

The limiting factors are substrate and enzyme saturation for the production. In lactic acid pathway, the lactic acid causes deposition which decreases the capacity of the muscles for energy production and causes muscle shutdown.