Running Intervals Teaches Your Muscles to Use Lactic Acid

By: Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:25:56
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

You exercise so intensely that your muscles burn and you gasp for breath. Then you slow down for a minute or two, catch your breath, and then go very fast again. This training technique has been used in all endurance sports since the 1920's. Now George Brooks of the University of California at Berkeley has shown why interval training makes you a better athlete (American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, June 2006).

Inside each muscle cell are mitochondria, the little furnaces that burn fuel for energy. A major fuel for your muscles during exercise is the sugar, glucose. In a series of chemical reactions, glucose is broken down step by step, with each step releasing energy. When enough oxygen is available, the glucose releases all of its energy until only carbon dioxide and water remain; these are blown off through your lungs. However, if not enough oxygen is available, the chemical reactions stop at lactic acid which accumulates in the muscles and spills over into the bloodstream. Lactic acid makes muscles acidic and causes a burning feeling. This recent research shows that lactic acid is the most efficient source of energy for muscles. Anything that helps muscles to break down lactic acid faster will make you a better athlete because it will increase your endurance and allow you to move faster when you are tired.

Since lactic acid is burned for energy in the mitochondria, anything that enlarges the mitochondria builds a bigger furnace and helps to increase endurance. Lactic acid is carried from the cells into the mitochondria by special proteins called lactate transporter molecules, so anything that increases these molecules will build endurance. An enzyme called lactic acid dehydrogenase is needed to start the reaction, so anything that increases this enzyme will also help. Interval training does all three: it enlarges the furnace (mitochondria), increases lactic acid transporter molecules, and increases the amount of lactic acid dehydrogenase.

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter on fitness, health, and nutrition.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports -- and the FREE Good Food Book -- at http://www.DrMirkin.com

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Running category

  • Base Building for Runners - By: Bidz dela Cruz
    This can happen: after three years of long runs, races and lots of speed work, you find out that you are getting fed up with doing a session 'because it was on the schedule', or because everyone else was doing it. If you already have two disappointing marathons, try considering base-building. It will open up a whole new lease of life for you. Then you will know why you are doing each run, and if you're an inquisitive type, this will give you more pleasure and motivation
  • What Happened to the Fastest Man Under Any Conditions? - By: Bidz dela Cruz
    Last August 16, in Beijing, we saw a massive upset in the semifinal heat of the 100-meter sprint when one of the pre-race favorites, Tyson Gay, failed to qualify by 0.02 seconds. It was supposed to be the scene for the biggest race of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the sprint to see who will be crowned the world's fastest man.
  • Running And Back Pain: Check Your Technique For A Likely Cause - By: Roy Palmer
    Running and back pain are mentioned in the same sentence more often than they really should be. Running is an excellent activity for staying in shape and for many it provides a lifetime of enjoyment, challenges and purpose. For others it’s either a short-lived activity or a stop-start routine due to injury.
  • The Best Way to Develop a Treadmill Exercise Plan - By: Mark J Emslie
    A treadmill is a good investment to make but you want to be sure that you have the right treadmill exercise plan for you. Early treadmills were made almost entirely of wood and whilst today’s machines now offer a vast array of features to keep you occupied, let's not forget that walking or running on a treadmill is still a very effective way to workout.Developing your Treadmill Exercise PlanWhen developing your treadmill exercise plan, do not forget the fun factor.
  • Speed Training - Maximum Velocity Running - By: Patrick Beith
    Training speed is more then just working on acceleration and trying to sprint as fast as possible. You must actually coach your athletes how to run and stay relaxed, especially when they are running at top speed.Maximum Velocity is another way of saying running at full speed.
  • Why You Should Run - By: Daniel Watson
    Too many people have the misconception that running has to be hard work. This tiny detail prevents many people from taking up the sport and leading a much better, healthier life. Afterall, we would all like to lose a bit of flab and live a little longer and running can help you do this.
  • Top 10 Greatest Sprint Races in History - By: Alex Ray
    1. Atlanta 1996. Men's 100-meter Olympic final. It was the most exciting 10 seconds in sports history.
  • Match Your Running Shoes To Your Foot Type - By: Peter Somerville
    Choosing a running shoe that is engineered for your particular type of foot can help you avoid some common running injuries. It can also make running more enjoyable and let you get more mileage out of your shoes.Shoe manufacturers are aware that, anatomically, feet usually fall into one of three categories.
  • Weight Loss - Why Do Runners Stay so Slim? - By: David Snape
    I see them almost everyday. They appear at the park where I meditate. Runners, joggers, or whatever designator you want to give them, they are there.
  • Running for Beginners: Start with the Right Kit to Increase Your Chances of Success - By: Roy Palmer
    It would be so easy to put on a pair of your old trainers and kit you used to wear at the gym and shoot straight off for a run. However, you would be following in the footsteps of many a failed runner before you! You will increase your chances of successfully becoming a regular runner if you make a commitment by spending your hard earned cash on specialist running gear.