The Effect of Secret Clock Manipulation on 10 km Cycle Time Trial Performance.

The anticipatory RPE feedback model (Tucker 2009) proposes that during self paced exercise tasks, muscular work is continually regulated through comparison of a subconscious ‘template’ Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) that serves to protect against the development of catastrophic physiological failure, and a ‘conscious’ RPE that is generated through afferent feedback with regards to peripheral physiological status and through psychological inputs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of altering psychological inputs via incorrect time feedback on both RPE and performance during a series of maximal effort 10km cycle time trials. After task familiarisation, eight participants performed three separate time trials using their own cycle mounted onto the Kingcycle ergometer rig. Distance covered was available via large visual display along with elapsed time. On one occasion the display clock ran at the correct speed, but on two other occasions the clock manipulation was altered so that it ran either 10% too fast or 10% too slow. The order of the interventions was randomised. Although no significant differences were observed in total performance time, the magnitude of the endspurt participants were able to generate in the final 10% of the trial was significantly (P<0.01) greater during the slow clock trials than during the fast clock trials. Despite differences in pace distribution under each clock condition, a similar generally linear increase in RPE was observed throughout trials in all conditions. It is proposed that these findings lend support to the anticipatory RPE feedback model, and that altered psychological inputs probably act by influencing the fraction of metabolic reserve capacity that can be accessed during such trials

Influence of Different Performance Levels on Pacing Strategy During the Women's World Championship Marathon Race.

Purpose To analyse pacing strategies displayed by athletes achieving differing levels of performance during an elite level marathon race. Methods Competitors in the 2009 IAAF Women’s Marathon Championship were split into Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 comprising the first, second, third, and fourth 25% of finishers respectively. Final, intermediate, and personal best (PB) times of finishers were converted to mean speeds, and relative speed (% of PB speed) was calculated for intermediate segments. Results Mean PB speed decreased from Group 1 to 4 and speed maintained in the race was 98.5 + 1.8%, 97.4 + 3.2%, 95.0 + 3.1% and 92.4 + 4.4% of PB speed for Groups 1-4 respectively. Group 1 was fastest in all segments and differences in speed between groups increased throughout the race. Group 1 ran at lower relative speeds than other groups for the first two 5 km segments, but higher relative speeds after 35km. Significant differences (P<0.01) in the percentage of PB speed maintained were observed between Groups 1 and 4, and 2 and 4 in all segments after 20 km, and Groups 3 and 4 from 20-25 km and 30-35 km. Conclusions Group 1 athletes achieved superior finishing times relative to their PB than athletes in other Groups who selected unsustainable initial speeds resulting in subsequent significant losses of speed. It is suggested that psychological factors specific to a major competitive event influenced decision making by athletes and poor decisions resulted in final performances inferior to those expected based on PB times

All for One and One for All! Disparity Between Overall Crew’s and Individual Rowers’ Pacing Strategies During Rowing

Purpose: This study examined individual contributions to overall pacing strategy during 2- and 5-km rowing trials in a cox-less-4 boat. Methods: A crew of 4 male rowers performed maximal-effort on-water trials over 2 and 5 km, and power output during every individual stroke was measured for each crew member. Mean overall boat and individual rower stroke power were calculated for each 25% epoch (25% of total strokes taken), and power for each individual epoch was calculated as a percentage of mean power maintained over the entire distance. The coefficient of variation was used to determine stroke-to-stroke and epoch-to-epoch variability for individual rowers and the overall boat. Results: In both trials, the overall pacing strategy consisted of a high power output in the initial 25% that decreased in the middle 50% and increased again in the final 25%. However, individual rower data indicate wide variation in individual power profiles that did not always mimic the overall boat profile. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that overall boat power profiles during 2- and 5-km rowing trials are similar to velocity profiles previously reported for individual ergometry and on-water racing events. However, this over-all profile is achieved despite considerable variation in individual rower profiles. Further research is warranted to determine the mechanisms through which individual contributions to overall pacing strategy are regulated and the effectiveness or oth-erwise of seemingly disparate individual strategies on overall performance

A Computer Model of Drafting Effects on Collective Behavior in Elite 10,000 m Runners

Purpose Drafting in cycling influences collective behaviour of pelotons. Whilst evidence for collective behaviour in competitive running events exists, it is not clear if this results from energetic savings conferred by drafting. This study modelled the effects of drafting on behavior in elite 10,000 m runners. Methods Using performance data from a men’s elite 10,000 m track running event, computer simulations were constructed using Netlogo 5.1 to test the effects of three different drafting quantities on collective behaviour: no drafting, drafting to 3m behind with up to ~8% energy savings (a realistic running draft); and drafting up to 3m behind with up to 38% energy savings (a realistic cycling draft). Three measures of collective behaviour were analysed in each condition; mean speed, mean group stretch (distance between first and last placed runner), and Runner Convergence Ratio (RCR) which represents the degree of drafting benefit obtained by the follower in a pair of coupled runners. Results Mean speeds were 6.32±0.28m.s-1, 5.57±0.18 m.s-1, and 5.51±0.13 m.s-1 in the cycling draft, runner draft, and no draft conditions respectively (all P<0.001). RCR was lower in the cycling draft condition, but did not differ between the other two. Mean stretch did not differ between conditions. Conclusions Collective behaviours observed in running events cannot be fully explained through energetic savings conferred by realistic drafting benefits. They may therefore result from other, possibly psychological, processes. The benefits or otherwise of engaging in such behavior are, as yet, unclear

Performance data: less is more?

Sport and exercise scientists, as well as athletes and coaches, routinely collect a wide range of physiological and performance data to assist the decision-making process informing the design and monitoring of physical training programmes. Although a vast array of affordable laboratory-based and wearable technology is now available to collect this data, ultimately users must still interpret its meaning and decide how to act upon it. Given the complexity of the factors determining human performance, this is clearly no simple task. In this short opinion piece, I argue that in many circumstances, the decision-making process may be best served by focusing on overall “gestalt” sensations (a phenomenon whereby the mind integrates multiple sources of perceptual information to produce an overall summary), rather than being concerned with isolated variables. Through use of such an approach, it is acknowledged that in complex systems the characteristics of the whole system are often greater than the sum of its parts

Regulation of performance during endurance competition

Lecture given at European Athletics Endurance Conference, Leeds 12th November 202

Optimising regulation of exercise intensity

Presentation given to European Athletics High Performance Webinar 16th July 202

Fortune Favors the Brave. Tactical Behaviors in the Middle Distance Running Events at the 2017 IAAF World Championships.

Purpose: To assess tactical and performance factors associated with progression from qualification rounds in the 800 m and 1500 m running events at the 2017 IAAF World Championships Methods: Official results were used to access final and intermediate positions and times,as well as performance characteristics of competitors. Shared variance between intermediate positions and rank order lap times (ROSPT) with finishing positions were calculated, along with probability of automatic qualification, for athletes in each available race position at the end of every 400 m lap. Differences in race positions and lap times relative to season´s best (SB) performances were assessed between automatic qualifiers (AQ), fastest losers (FL), and non-qualifiers (NQ). Results: Race positions at the end of each 400 m lap remained more stable through 800 m races than 1500 m races. Probability of automatic qualification decreased with both race position and ROSPT on each lap, although ROSPT accounted for a higher degree of shared variance than did intermediate position. In the 1500 m event FL ran at a higher percentage of SB speed, and adopted positions closer to the race lead in the early stages. This was not the case in the 800 m. Conclusions: Intermediate positioning and the ability to produce a fast final race segment are strongly related to advancement from qualification rounds in middle distance running events. The adoption of a more ‘risky’ strategy characterized by higher speeds relative to SB may be associated with increased likelihood of qualification as FL in the 1500 m event