Abstract:
Purpose: The energy contribution is a vital component of sport profile. However, energy contribution of simulated speed skating race on ice is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the energy contributions in simulated 500 m, 1 000 m and 1 500 m speed skating races with young skaters. Methods: Young skaters of provincial level volunteered to participate in 500 m, 1 000 m and 1 500 m simulated speed skating races. A portable spirometric system was used to measure gas metabolism and heart rate. Capillary blood was taken from the ear lobe during and after the races, and analyzed for lactate afterwards. The energy contributions were calculated with the method based on fast component of oxygen uptake off-kinetics, accumulated blood lactate and oxygen uptake during test. Results: Average finishing time in the simulated races was 90.58±1.94 ~ 92.40±1.64% of personal best during last season. There were no significant differences in peak heart rate (174.96±6.26 ~ 179.25±10.98 bpm), oxygen uptake (37.02±3.35 ~ 42.74±6.55 ml/min/kg) and blood lactate (12.29±1.65 ~ 13.34±2.61 mM) in different distances (
P>0.05). The anaerobic alactic (31.32±8.23 ~ 36.65±5.46 kJ,
P>0.05) and anaerobic lactic (37.99±12.97 ~ 45.71±11.92 kJ,
P>0.05) energy contributions were not significantly different, but aerobic energy contributions increased significantly (26.27±6.10 < 55.87±7.18 <105.73±23.68 kJ,
P<0.05) in longer distances. In longer distances, the relative anaerobic alactic (32.91±5.70 < 27.39±4.39 < 18.84±2.67%) and anaerobic lactic (39.23±5.82 < 30.99±6.34 < 24.40±2.88%) energy contributions decreased, while the relative aerobic energy contributions increased (27.86±4.65 < 41.63±5.02 < 56.76±2.14%), with the differences significnat only in relative of anaerobic lactic and aerobic energy contributions between 500 m and 1 500 m(
P<0.05). Conclusion: The relative aerobic energy contributions increased in longer race distances. It is suggested that Chinese young skaters would benefit from the improvement of their aerobic capacity.