How one paces themselves throughout a sporting event (that being the strategy adopted in order to achieve the best performance time over a set distance) has received considerable research attention over the last decade. Exploring how we self-pace during a range of sporting events has begun to provide insight into how we control our exercise intensity and what may limit our endurance performance capability.

A study lead by Dr Tom Gee, and published within the International Journal of Sport Physiology set out to explore pacing strategies adopted by a group of fourteen well-trained rowers. With the aim of establishing the trends in their performance over repeated bouts of 2000-m rowing performance, findings revealed that as the performers became more accustomed to the activity their strategies changed. It was concluded that a pacing strategy is a learned process and changes over time. Training to pace correctly, thereby maximising energy resources and achieving an optimal time, can have dramatic impact on overall performance.

To view the study please click here.