Question

In a 400m race, what best describes the athlete's effort throughout the entire distance?

A) Gradual pace conservation
B) Strategic sprint intervals
C) Maximal/all-out effort
D) Steady endurance approach

Answer 1

In a 400m race, an athlete's best approach is a Steady endurance method, maintaining a high speed without reaching excessive fatigue and allowing for a finishing 'kick'.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a 400m race, the effort of an athlete is best described as D) a Steady endurance approach. This distance requires athletes to find a balance between speed and endurance, as the race is too long for a maximal/all-out effort from start to finish and too short for a purely endurance-based strategy. Runners typically race at or near their lactate threshold, which is the fastest pace they can maintain without accumulating more lactic acid in the blood than the body can remove. This approach allows them to maintain a high speed throughout the race without reaching the point of fatigue too early. Athletes may pace themselves to have enough energy to 'kick' or sprint towards the finish, but this is still part of a controlled strategy rather than sprint intervals.