Pacing Strategies of Inexperienced Children During Repeated 800 m Individual Time-Trials and Simulated Competition

Abstract

Prior experience of fatiguing tasks is considered essential to establishing an optimal pacing strategy. This study examined the pacing behavior of inexperienced children during self-paced, 800 m running, both individually and within a competitive environment. Thirteen children (aged 9−11 y) completed a graded-exercise test to volitional exhaustion on a treadmill (laboratory trial), followed by three self-paced, individual 800 m time-trials (Trials 1−3) and one self-paced, competitive 800 m time-trial (Trial 4) on an outdoor athletics track. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and heart rate (HR) were measured throughout all trials. Overall performance time improved from Trial 1−3 (250.1 ± 50.4 s & 242.4 ± 51.5 s, respectively, p < .017). The difference in overall performance time between Trials 3 and 4 (260.5 ± 54.2 s) was approaching significance (p = .06). The pacing strategy employed from the outset was consistent across all trials. These findings dispute the notion that an optimal pacing strategy is learned with exercise experience or training.

Differences in Physiological Responses to Interval Training in Cyclists With and Without Interval Training Experience

“…This may be explained by these athletes having more training experience and the ability to better anticipate fatigue, thereby allowing them to maintain muscle power levels throughout the test. Several independent research groups have demonstrated that repeating maximal efforts resulted in a change in the distribution of power output over time, with a decrease in the beginning and then an increase in the final phase of exercise (Gee et al, 2013; Lambrick et al, 2013; Thomas et al, 2012). Subsequent repetitions have been found to be performed at lower physiological cost, i.e.…”

“…Subsequent repetitions have been found to be performed at lower physiological cost, i.e. VO2 and RER, allowing for greater power output at the end of exercise (Jones et al, 2013) and shorter distance times (Lambrick et al, 2013). …”

Profiling Collapsing Half Marathon Runners—Emerging Risk Factors: Results from Gothenburg Half Marathon

“…Running technique or pacing is the ability of the athletes to distribute their energy equally throughout the long-distance race and can vary depending on the individual [7,8]. Previous studies have shown that this ability is more developed among the experienced athletes, who can also adjust their energy use before their body temperature rises to high levels [8][9][10]. Many factors such as knowledge about the length of the race, ambient air temperature, and topography can influence runners' pacing and consequently the energy distribution.…”

Optimal Development of Youth Athletes Toward Elite Athletic Performance: How to Coach Their Motivation, Plan Exercise Training, and Pace the Race

“…Although the literature on pacing in children and youth is scarce, studies suggest that the pacing behavior of 5-8 year old children, performing an ∼4 min running task, is characterized by a decrease in velocity over the duration of the task, pointing to a lack of skill to anticipate the demands of the running task and a difficulty in setting initial exercise pace (Micklewright et al, 2012). At ∼10-years of age, observed pacing behavior shifts toward a U-shaped velocity distribution, suggesting that children of this age develop the ability to hold back an energy reserve in order to achieve the set exercise goal (Micklewright et al, 2012;Lambrick et al, 2013). In longtrack speed skating (1,500 m), the pacing behavior of elite adult skaters is characterized by a relatively slow start and a fast 700-1,100 m section.…”