Aerobic Mechanism Relative Contribution during a Simulated 2000m ‘All-Out’ Race

Aerobic Mechanism Relative Contribution during a Simulated 2000m ‘All-Out’ Race

Christos S. Riganas1,2, Ioannis S. Vrabas2 & Konstantinos Mandroukas1

1Laboratory of Ergophysiology and Ergometry, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science,

Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Hellas

2Physiology, Biochemistry, Health and Sports Medicine Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and

Sports Science at Serres, Aristotle University, Hellas

Abstract

Rowing is a strength-endurance type of sport and competition performance depends on factors such as aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. Energy cost during all-out effort in water has not clearly reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the relative contribution of VO2max during simulated a 2000m race. Twenty-five rowers (height 182.23 ± 1.50 cm; weight 77.93 ± 1.42 Kg; age 20.50 ± 1.3 years; training age 5.07 ± 1.24 years) per- formed an incremental exercise test to determine the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), and a 2000 metre “all- out” test to evaluate performance indices. The results revealed high contribution of the VO2max during the simulated race and reached 88.67% for absolute and 88.56% for relative values of VO2max. Aerobic power was signifi- cantly lower during the simulated race compared to the incremental test, both in absolute (4389.57 ± 84.87 vs 4951 ± 46.81 ml·min-1) and relative values (56.32 ± 0.34 vs 63.60 ± 1.97 ml·kg-1·min-1). Heart rate was signifi- cantly higher during the simulated race compared with the incremental test 202.50 ± 2.02 vs 196.93 ± 1.13b·min 1). Dyspnea index and breathing frequency were also significantly higher during the simulated race compared with the incremental test (1.12 ± 0.03 vs 0.94 ± 0.02; 70.14 ± 1.64 vs 61.79 ± 2.62 b·min-1). Blood lactate concentra- tion was also significantly higher during the 2000m all-out test compared to the incremental test (15.27 ± 0.64 vs 11.70 ± 0.32 mmol·lt-1). In conclusion the present findings support the notion that aerobic metabolism has high contribution a during simulated 2000m race (>88% of VO2max) compared to the anaerobic metabolism.

Keywords: rowing, maximal oxygen uptake, aerobic capacity