Below are links to eight animated examples of energy metabolism. In each example you can see how different metabolic parameters behave during different types of exercise. These examples mainly involve running and rowing but the same processes work in swimming, cycling, skiing, speed skating, team sports etc. They show steady state as well as the exhaustive type of exercise that is typical during short races (20 seconds to 6 minutes).

They are from the writings of Alois Mader who has in the last 25 years been developing a comprehensive model of energy metabolism.

There will shortly be software that uses this model to analyze lactate results.

Similar software has been used by coaches and sports scientists to train athletes who have won over 500 Olympic, World Champioship and European Championship medals as well Tour de France stages.

Press the link in the table below and it will take you to the example. A text box will appear at the bottom of the window with instructions. All the examples work more or less in the same way. Namely, you press the button next to the physiological parameter of interest and a curve will appear in the graph window indicating what happens to that variable during the exercise. A "Clear" button removes the curve when you wish. In some cases there is more than one button to press for a variable because there are curves for more than one athlete within the example.

When you are finished, click the brown return box titled "Home Page" in the lower right corner and you will be brought back to this menu.

These are meant to be educational in nature and any suggestions for improving the presentation format or the material covered are welcome. We will be adding additional examples from other sports to these animations in the near future.