Effects of pacing strategy on performance and physiological responses in a simulated 1000-m kayak race under the new Olympic schedule

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined whether adding an all-out start (AO) to a self-paced strategy increased average power output
as a measure of performance in a fixed-duration 4-min kayak ergometer trial simulating a 1000-m kayak race under the new
Olympic canoe sprint schedule, and whether this pacing modification altered physiological responses.
Methods: Nine national-level male kayakers completed three 4-min kayak-ergometer trials over two consecutive days: a selfpaced (SP) trial on day 1, and even-paced (EP) and AO trials on day 2 separated by 2 hours to simulate semifinal and final,
respectively. In EP, athletes matched the average power output (PO) from SP; in AO, they performed a 15-s maximal effort
followed by self-paced paddling. Mechanical and physiological variables, including PO, stroke rate, oxygen uptake, heart rate
(HR), blood lactate, and acid-base parameters, were measured. Data were analyzed with frequentist and Bayesian repeatedmeasures ANOVA.
Results: Compared with SP, AO produced higher average PO (194 ± 14 vs 185 ± 22 W; P = .027; BF₁₀ = 1.82) and peak HR
(195 ± 4 vs 192 ± 3 beats/min; P = .045; BF₁₀ = 4.22), although the HR difference lay within typical day-to-day variability.
The remaining physiological variables did not differ between strategies (all P > .35), with Bayes factors (BF₁₀ = 0.25–0.43)
providing anecdotal to moderate evidence for the null model.
Conclusions: A 15-s all-out start superimposed on a self-paced strategy may increase average power output during a fixedduration 4-min kayak ergometer trial under the Olympic regatta schedule without increasing physiological strain. This
finding supports its use a