31/08/2021
Energy system training! Some of you may know this as conditioning or getting a sweat on but I prefer to call it Energy System Training.
Whether you are sprinting, doing a high intense workout, yoga or running a marathon, these are all different energy systems. Energy systems can be considered as your different aerobic pathways. There are 3 pathways and all three energy systems are always at work, but with one system taking a dominant role in each specific kind of training.
1. Anaerobic Alactic is used for resistance training for mechanical adaptations and very quick burst of power output lasting up to 20 seconds. Anaerobic meaning without oxygen and Alactic meaning without lactate.
2. Anaerobic Lactic primarily uses lactate as fuel fed by glycogen sometimes known as glycolytic training. Efforts are usually unsustainable level of work and with a presence of lactate. Lactate is a byproduct of intense work and begin to accumulate as intense efforts go beyond 20 seconds. Anaerobic lactic training typically spans from training 30 seconds up to a couple of minutes.
3. Aerobic training primarily uses oxygen as fuel and is sometimes known as oxidative training. Aerobic training is generally long, slower and repeatable. Think of a walk on the beach, a training modality that is sustainable and repeatable at a conversational pace.
Aerobic training builds the foundation for movement. In all forms of movement, the aerobic system is activated at some level. A robust aerobic system prepares one for all other types of movement. Hence it is important to consistently get in your 10,000 steps a day.
I highly recommend to find ways to get in some form of training on a daily basis. Majority of those times should be spent in the aerobic system. This means that even on your rest and recover days, there is no reason to not get in an easy paced walk. Remember that the larger your aerobic capacity is, you have more room to develop your anaerobic capacity.
