Almost, yes the primary source of fuel is fat but it is not the body's
most efficient fuel. Carbohydrates are the most efficient, this is
burned during aerobic activity. This can only be done for very short
periods of time. And yes, triathletes spend most of their time
training to increase the efficiency and power of their anaerobic
threshold. They only want to dip into those Aerobic/Carbohydrate
stores in crucial moments. As far as fatburning zone that is your
anaerobic where your body is burning fat at the cellular level.
When the body switches from anaerobic to aerobic it is by-passing the
external oxygen phase. Anaerobically, your body uses the oxygen taken
from your lunges to burn fuel. Aerobically, it skips this process and
pulls straight from the oxygen already supplied in the blood stream.
Since this source is limited, it can only be done for a short period
of time. Hope this helps. I'm fairly new to all this tri-stuff and
love getting information so keep the info flowing.
Don't forget to train your weakness and good luck.
Paul said:I have been running since last fall and really want to learn better the
science behind my training regimen. Here is my understanding and I would
like your feeedback:
- You start with a maximum HR
- Based on your MAX HR, you have zones and within each zone, different types
of enegy are used as fuel
- Endurance athletes train their bodies to use fat as the primary fuel
source for most of their event sice fat is the most efficient fuel source
- You start by having a good training base with lots of very slow long runs
to build more capillaries
- With some continued base training, you increase your anaerobic threshold
by adding speed work
- Speed work helps to push your anaerobic threshold to a higher HR so you
can stay in your aerobic fat-buring zone longer, thereby being more
efficient
Does that sum it up?
I'd love to hear your feedback and web page and book recommnedations.
Many thanks!
