Provide an example of a sport athlete who, in the course of competing, uses all three major energy pathways. Describe the individual demands that elicit the use of the energy pathways, how long the body utilizes each pathway as its main energy source, and why the utilization of all three is necessary for the athlete to compete.
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Introduction: Sports require athletes to have sufficient energy to perform their tasks. Energy for athletic performance comes from three major energy pathways, namely the anaerobic alactic, anaerobic lactic, and aerobic pathways. Each energy pathway is used based on the intensity and duration of the activity.
Answer: An example of a sport athlete who uses all three energy pathways is a 400m track runner. During a race, the 400m runner requires high energy output, and the body utilizes all three energy pathways. The initial 10-15 seconds of the race is fueled by the anaerobic alactic pathway, which relies on ATP stored in the muscle cells. The anaerobic lactic pathway is then utilized to provide energy for the subsequent 45-50 seconds of the race as ATP stored in muscle cells is depleted. Finally, the aerobic pathway takes over after 50 seconds and it allows for endurance and stamina towards the last 100m of the race.
The utilization of all three energy pathways is necessary for the athlete to compete because the energy systems transform food into a useable form of energy that the muscles can use. The three energy systems supply the body with a constant supply of energy, ensuring that the body has the required energy to compete in high-intensity activities that last for several minutes. Therefore, the 400m runner needs to train and ensure all three energy pathways are optimized to perform in the race successfully.
