Energy Systems Defined
Do you ever wonder where you get the energy to dash up the
stairs, perform a jump shot or run on the beach? How about when you lift a weight, throw a
medicine ball or run on the treadmill?
Your body has three main energy systems. One is the ATP-PC system, which fuels high-intensity activities that last up
to about 10 seconds. The second is the anaerobic system, which fuels
moderately-intense activities that last from about 10 seconds to about
90seconds. The third is called the aerobic system, which fuels low-intensity
activities lasting more than then 90 seconds and up to several hours.
Typically your body utilizes one system as the primary fuel
while the other two contributes only a small amount. For example, if you’re sprinting all-out for
about 10 seconds, your body is fueled by the ATP-PC system, after which it uses
the aerobic system to replenish the ATP-PC system. Or if you’re lifting a weight for about 90
seconds, it uses the anaerobic system after the first 10 seconds. If you were jogging, then beyond the 90
seconds your jogging is fueled by the aerobic system.
So depending on the activity, your body uses one energy
system primarily over the others. It is
therefore important that you know what kind of activities you’re doing, and
then which exercises train that particular system. It is how you optimize your training. HyperStrike shows you.
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