e rest intervals as compared with light or mild work-relief intervals is that the blood lactic acid levels will be higher with the latter. This is so because the work performed during the relief interval blocks or partially blocks the replenishment of the ATP-PC stores. Without as much of these stores being renewed, a greater proportion of the energy needed during the work intervals must be supplied via the LA system. In this way, the accumulation of lactic acid willb e greater, the harder the work during the relief interval, the greater will be this lactic acid accumulation.
Specifically, in the development of the energy systems, intermittent work or the interval-training system accomplishes the following:
1. It allows the stores of ATP + PC to be used over and over. This, in turn, provides an adequate stimulus for promoting an increase in the energy capacity of this system and aids in delaying the onset of fatigue by not delving so deeply into anaerobic glycolysis.
2. With proper regulatin of the duration and type of relief interval, the involvment of anaerobic glycolysis will be maximal and thus improved.
3. By performing longer work intervals with many repetitions and brief relief intervals, the oxygen transport sytem is stressed and the aerobic energy system is improved.
Daryl Conant, M.Ed