GYLCOLYTIC

GLYCOLITIC

Last week we talked about the Phospagen energy system that provides us short term energy (up to 10 seconds).  

Today we’re tackling the second Anaerobic energy system, the Glycolytic System.  Like the Phosphagen system it does not use oxygen to produce energy.  It’s Anaerobic. 

The Glycolytic energy system kicks into gear after the Phospagen system has been depleted.   This system uses the glucose/carbohydrates (sugar) in your blood, along with glucose that has been converted to glycogen and stored in the muscles and liver for energy. 

The Glycolytic energy system can effectively provide energy to our muscles for about 2 minutes at high intensity.

Eventually our muscles build up an excess of hydrogen (a byproduct of the conversion of glucose) and they can no longer contract.  That build up is what gives you that burning feeling in your muscles at high intensity.

We train this energy system by doing things like 30-40 second intervals with short rest in-between sets. 

Next week we talk about the Aerobic    energy system, the “Oxidative” system.