Physiologic Responses and Energy System Contributions in Competitive Short Track Speed Skating Across Race Distances

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Short track speed skating demands significant physiological exertion across various race distances.
• Understanding the specific energy system contributions is crucial for optimizing training and performance.
• Previous research has not fully quantified the metabolic demands across standard short track race distances.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify and compare the physiological responses and energy system contributions in elite short track speed skaters.
• To analyze these responses across three standard race distances: 500m, 1000m, and 1500m.
• To investigate the shift in energy system dominance with increasing race duration.

Main Methods:

• Nine elite male short track speed skaters completed maximal-effort time trials for 500m, 1000m, and 1500m in a randomized order.
• Oxygen uptake (V̇o2) was measured continuously using a portable gas analyzer.
• Blood lactate concentration ([BLa]) was sampled pre- and post-exercise, and energy contributions were calculated using the PCr-La-O2 approach.

Main Results:

• Total energy expenditure increased significantly with race distance.
• Aerobic energy contribution rose substantially with distance (22.2% at 500m to 44.3% at 1500m).
• Glycolytic and phosphagen contributions decreased proportionally as race distance increased (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• There is a clear shift towards aerobic energy system dominance as race distance increases in short track speed skating.
• The PCr-La-O2 method provides detailed metabolic insights, supporting distance-specific training and recovery strategies.
• Nonlinear patterns in anaerobic energy contributions highlight the need for tailored conditioning for elite performance.