Modelling the optimization of world-class 400 m and 1,500 m running performances using high-resolution data
The 400 m and 1,500 m are track events that rely on different but important contributions from both the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. The purpose of this study is to model men's and women's 400 m and 1,500 m championship performances to gain a deeper understanding of the key mechan...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-03-01
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Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
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Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1293145/full |
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author | Antoine Le Hyaric Amandine Aftalion Brian Hanley |
author_facet | Antoine Le Hyaric Amandine Aftalion Brian Hanley |
author_sort | Antoine Le Hyaric |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The 400 m and 1,500 m are track events that rely on different but important contributions from both the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. The purpose of this study is to model men's and women's 400 m and 1,500 m championship performances to gain a deeper understanding of the key mechanical and physiological factors affecting running speed and bend running using high-resolution data from live competition (10 Hz). To investigate World-class athletes' instantaneous speeds, propulsive forces and aerobic and anaerobic energy, we model and simulate the performances of the men's and women's European Athletics 400 m champions, Matthew Hudson–Smith and Femke Bol, as well as the men's European Athletics 1,500 m champion, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and the women's European Athletics U23 1,500 m champion, Gaia Sabbatini. The simulations show that a fast start is essential in both the 400 m and 1,500 m because of the need for fast oxygen kinetics, with peak running speeds occurring within the first ∼50 m in both events. Subsequently, 400 m athletes slow continually from this maximum speed to the finish, and a total anaerobic contribution of ∼77% is found for both male and female champions. The key to faster 400 m racing is to reduce the decrease in velocity: this comes from both a high VO2 and a high anaerobic contribution. Ingebrigtsen's winning tactic in the European 1,500 m final is to adopt a very fast cruising pace from 300 m onwards that is possible because he is able to maintain a high VO2 value until the end of the race and has a large anaerobic contribution. He has fast VO2 kinetics that does not require as fast a start as his opponents, but then he speeds up in the last two laps, without a fast sprint finish. The comparison between Sabbatini's slower and quicker races (∼8 s difference) shows that it is the improvement of aerobic metabolism that has the greatest effect on 1,500 m performance. Coaches should note in particular that the all-out pacing nature of the 400 m requires the prioritization of anaerobic energy system development, and those who coach the 1,500 m should note the differing energy contributions between even-paced races and championship racing. |
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language | English |
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publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
spelling | doaj.art-7ba2be99b486462d9935121860ac908e2024-03-05T04:19:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672024-03-01610.3389/fspor.2024.12931451293145Modelling the optimization of world-class 400 m and 1,500 m running performances using high-resolution dataAntoine Le Hyaric0Amandine Aftalion1Brian Hanley2Laboratoire Jacques-Louis Lions (LJLL), CNRS, Inria, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Paris, FranceCentre D’Analyse et de Mathématique Sociales, CNRS UMR-8557, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris, FranceCarnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United KingdomThe 400 m and 1,500 m are track events that rely on different but important contributions from both the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. The purpose of this study is to model men's and women's 400 m and 1,500 m championship performances to gain a deeper understanding of the key mechanical and physiological factors affecting running speed and bend running using high-resolution data from live competition (10 Hz). To investigate World-class athletes' instantaneous speeds, propulsive forces and aerobic and anaerobic energy, we model and simulate the performances of the men's and women's European Athletics 400 m champions, Matthew Hudson–Smith and Femke Bol, as well as the men's European Athletics 1,500 m champion, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and the women's European Athletics U23 1,500 m champion, Gaia Sabbatini. The simulations show that a fast start is essential in both the 400 m and 1,500 m because of the need for fast oxygen kinetics, with peak running speeds occurring within the first ∼50 m in both events. Subsequently, 400 m athletes slow continually from this maximum speed to the finish, and a total anaerobic contribution of ∼77% is found for both male and female champions. The key to faster 400 m racing is to reduce the decrease in velocity: this comes from both a high VO2 and a high anaerobic contribution. Ingebrigtsen's winning tactic in the European 1,500 m final is to adopt a very fast cruising pace from 300 m onwards that is possible because he is able to maintain a high VO2 value until the end of the race and has a large anaerobic contribution. He has fast VO2 kinetics that does not require as fast a start as his opponents, but then he speeds up in the last two laps, without a fast sprint finish. The comparison between Sabbatini's slower and quicker races (∼8 s difference) shows that it is the improvement of aerobic metabolism that has the greatest effect on 1,500 m performance. Coaches should note in particular that the all-out pacing nature of the 400 m requires the prioritization of anaerobic energy system development, and those who coach the 1,500 m should note the differing energy contributions between even-paced races and championship racing.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1293145/fullathleticsbendscoachingpacingtrack and field |
spellingShingle | Antoine Le Hyaric Amandine Aftalion Brian Hanley Modelling the optimization of world-class 400 m and 1,500 m running performances using high-resolution data Frontiers in Sports and Active Living athletics bends coaching pacing track and field |
title | Modelling the optimization of world-class 400 m and 1,500 m running performances using high-resolution data |
title_full | Modelling the optimization of world-class 400 m and 1,500 m running performances using high-resolution data |
title_fullStr | Modelling the optimization of world-class 400 m and 1,500 m running performances using high-resolution data |
title_full_unstemmed | Modelling the optimization of world-class 400 m and 1,500 m running performances using high-resolution data |
title_short | Modelling the optimization of world-class 400 m and 1,500 m running performances using high-resolution data |
title_sort | modelling the optimization of world class 400 m and 1 500 m running performances using high resolution data |
topic | athletics bends coaching pacing track and field |
url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1293145/full |
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