Pacing Profiles in Competitive Track Races: Regulation of Exercise Intensity Is Related to Cognitive Ability

Abstract

Pacing has been defined as the goal-directed regulation of exercise intensity over an exercise bout, in which athletes need to decide how and when to invest their energy. The purpose of this study was to explore if the regulation of exercise intensity during competitive track races is different between runners with and without intellectual impairment, which is characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning (IQ ≤ 75) and adaptive behavioral deficits, diagnosed before the age of 18. The samples included elite runners with intellectual impairment (N = 36) and a comparison group of world class runners without impairment (N = 39), of which 47 were 400 m runners (all male) and 28 were 1500 m-runners (15 male and 13 female). Pacing was analyzed by means of 100 m split times (for 400 m races) and 200 m split times (for 1500 m races). Based on the split times, the average velocity was calculated for four segments of the races. Velocity fluctuations were defined as the differences in velocity between consecutive race segments. A mixed model ANOVA revealed significant differences in pacing profiles between runners with and without intellectual impairment (p < 0.05). Maximal velocity of elite 400 m runners with intellectual impairment in the first race segment (7.9 ± 0.3 m/s) was well below the top-velocity reached by world level 400 m runners without intellectual impairment (8.9 ± 0.2 m/s), and their overall pace was slower (F = 120.7, p < 0.05). In addition, both groups followed a different pacing profile and inter-individual differences in pacing profiles were larger, with differences most pronounced for 1500 m races. Whereas, male 1500 m-runners without intellectual impairment reached a high velocity in the first 100 m (7.2 ± 0.1 m/s), slowly decelerated in the second race segment (−0.6 ± 0.1 m/s), and finished with an end sprint (+0.9 ± 0.1 m/s); the 1500 m runners with intellectual impairment started slower (6.1 ± 0.3 m/s), accelerated in the second segment (+0.2 ± 0.7 m/s), and then slowly decreased until the finish (F = 6.8, p < 0.05). Our findings support the hypothesis that runners with intellectual impairment have difficulties to efficiently self-regulate their exercise intensity. Their limited cognitive resources may constrain the successful integration of appropriate pacing strategies during competitive races.

Pacing Decision Making in Sport and the Effects of Interpersonal Competition: A Critical Review

“…Indeed, when individuals are competing in separate lanes, such as swimming [46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54], 400-m track running [55,56], and rowing [57][58][59][60], the adopted pacing behaviour is quite similar to the pacing strategies as predicted in modelling studies [8,9]. The only study reporting a clear deviation from the theoretically optimal pacing strategy in a discipline using separate lanes in their competition focused on intellectual impaired 400-m and 1500-m runners [61], emphasising the importance of the cognitive skills required for optimal pacing regulation. In contrast, when directly competing in the same lane such as in track cycling [62], long-distance running [63,64] and short track speed skating [65][66][67], spontaneous group synchronization of movements seems to occur and pacing behaviour is adjusted drastically by the athletes [68][69][70].…”

“…In a longitudinal study for example, elite long track speed skaters distinguished themselves from non-elite skaters throughout their adolescence by a faster development of their pacing strategy towards the pacing strategies as used in elite 1500-m speed skating competitions [42]. Furthermore, athletes with an intellectual impairment appeared to have difficulties to efficiently self-regulate their pace [61,141], emphasising the cognitive resources that are required in the regulation of exercise intensity.…”

Shared Demands Between Cognitive and Physical Tasks May Drive Negative Effects of Fatigue: A Focused Review

“…These factors, along with personal goals and the likely demands of the task are often used to inform the type of pacing strategy adopted by athletes (Smits et al, 2014 ), and research has shown that pacing ability and performance on a physical task are related. For example, Van Biesen et al ( 2016 ) examined the pacing ability of elite runners with mild intellectual impairment to better understand the role that intellectual capacity plays in running. The pacing ability of well-trained runners with and without intellectual impairment was compared during a 400- and 1,500-meter track race.…”

The Analysis of The Pacing Profiles Based on The Performance Level of The Finishers in The Istanbul Marathon

“…However, this may lead to earlier fatigue and steady decrease in pace (34). In addition, for an athlete to maintain his/her predetermined pacing strategy, internal factors such as the existing energy stores, hydration level, neuromuscular fatigue, cardiorespiratory performance, external factors such as the convenience of the race track and environmental conditions and also decision-making processes such as psychological readiness, mental competence, tactical changes, effort perception, nationality, psycho-biological status, and behavioral characteristics play an important role (3,8,13,25,26,28,36). Therefore, it is stated that it is more appropriate to use the concept of pace profile instead of pacing strategy in studies related to pace profiles (31).…”