Discussion Board #1 (EXSC 510)
Topic: Bioenergetics and Maximal Oxygen Consumption
Thread: Hebrews 12:1–2 says “…and let us run with perseverance the race marked out
for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and Perfector of our faith, who for the joy
set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down on the right hand of
the throne of God.”
1. Comment on how bioenergetics and maximal oxygen consumption are both
important for an individual to “physically” run a race in a rather successful manner.
Discuss why it is important that we have a healthy lifestyle that will allow us to “run
the race” and lead the life that Jesus wants us to lead until we finish “the race.”
2. Explain how a “healthy lifestyle” is related to maximal oxygen consumption.
Bioenergetics is vital for you to run, jump, or swim, skeletal muscles cells must be able to
continuously extract energy from food nutrients (Powers & Howley, 2011). The individual running the
race needs to understand the importance of nutrients and oxygen needed. It is important to know that
muscle cells store limited amounts of ATP, so when the individual is running the race, they will need more
than a limited amount of ATP. Therefore, because molecular exercise requires a constant supply of ATP to
provide the energy needed for contraction, metabolic pathways must exist in the cell with the capability to
produce ATP rapidly (Powers & Howley, 2011). There are three different metabolic pathways that ATP
will produce. The three metabolic pathways that are activated at the beginning of muscle contractions
include: formation of ATP by phosphocreatine (PC) breakdown, formation of ATP via degradation of
glucose or glycogen and oxidative formation of ATP (Powers & Howley, 2011). When the individual is
running the race, they will need more than just a few minutes of this energy source. High-intensity events
lasting longer than 45 seconds use a combination of the ATP-PC system, glycolysis, and the aerobic
system to produce the needed ATP for muscular contraction with anaerobic and aerobic systems
contributing equally for exercise lasting between two and three minutes (Powers & Howley 2011).
Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) is also extremely important for the individual running
the race. When the athlete begins to run the race their oxygen level is at rest and once, they start the race,
they begin to reach their VO2 max within minutes. Once the athlete reaches this state of oxygen
consumption (VO2 max) they will reach aerobic metabolism which allows their cardiovascular fitness to
be measured. The maximal oxygen relates to the overall health of a trained or untrained individual.
Trained individuals will reach their lactate threshold much quicker than those individuals who are
untrained. Individuals who are more active have a much higher oxygen consumption and these
individuals are not limited in any activities.
Exercise and a healthy diet allow an individual to lead a more active lifestyle. The healthier
choices you can make physically will allow the mental, emotional and spiritual to come alongside and
allow the individual to thrive even more. Jesus wants us to live a life with Him, which means both
physical and mental meet, so we are able to “run the race.” 1 Corinthians 9:24 states “Do you know that
in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So, run that you may obtain it.” This verse
shows us that we must run the race for ourselves, for our lives to be full. Maintaining the proper
consumption of macronutrients, good fats, carbohydrates and protein allows individuals to reach the
mind, body and soul value they need to finish the race Jesus has planned for us.
References:
Powers, S. K., & Howley, E. T. (2018). Exercise physiology: Theory and application to fitness and
performance (10th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Replies:
1. Choose an aspect or 2 from your fellow classmates’ threads that supports the
physical requirements of running a race and comment on why you believe this is an
important aspect. You can or suggest alternative important aspects and justify your
choices.
2. Also, regarding the concept of being in decent cardiovascular shape (i.e. a decent
maximal oxygen consumption number) and its relationship to “running the race” for
Christ, suggest reasons why you believe your classmates’ statements and
justifications are correct or discuss why you believe their comments may be
incorrect.
Submit your thread by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday of Module/Week 1 and your replies
by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of the same module/week.
1 st
Response to classmate:
David,
Thank you for a great post. You did a great job of breaking down the importance of bioenergetics in
relation to running a race. Bioenergetics is vital for you to run, jump, or swim, skeletal muscles cells must
be able to continuously extract energy from food nutrients (Powers & Howley, 2011). The food sources
you mentioned to provide energy are ones that help produce ATP through the three metabolic pathways
and what we have found is that without the proper nutrients the individual running the race will not be
able to complete the race successfully. The maximal oxygen consumption number or VO2 max allow the
cardiovascular fitness to be measured. This allows the runner to see the transition from rest to exercise
and it allows them to see the higher the VO2 max the better shape the individual is in.
I related well with the scripture you chose because it can relate to both the race physically and the
journey, we all are on. The mental and physical go hand in hand and if one is off the other will be
affected. Allowing the Lord to work in our lives both while running the race of life physically and
mentally the main idea here is “running the race” with Jesus. Faith can help you get through anything in
life as long as you follow God’s plan and allow Him to work in your life in a way that helps you mind,
body and soul.
References:
Powers, S. K., & Howley, E. T. (2018). Exercise physiology: Theory and application to fitness and
performance (10th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
2 nd
Response to classmate:
Mylaja,
Thank you for a great post. The first few sentences really caught my eye because as a coach I have
realized I used these words on most days when coaching my student athletes. My favorite quote is “what
you put in you get out.” This truly leads into bioenergetics and our faith as believers. When you stated,
“the right energy, you can innovate a healthy perspective to eat the right nutrient-based foods and seek
Jesus on this lifestyle journey.” In my opinion the lifestyle journey you are talking about here is the race
Jesus has laid out for each of us individually. This leads into the energy required to run a physical race
and the supply of ATP needed to finish the race successfully. Therefore, because molecular exercise
requires a constant supply of ATP to provide the energy needed for contraction, metabolic pathways must
exist in the cell with the capability to produce ATP rapidly (Powers & Howley, 2011).
True investment starts with Jesus and then we are able to begin to run life’s race. The bible verse you used
is a very good verse, because it allows us as believers to understand the importance of our body and its
needs. These needs are both spiritual and physical. Continuing to train your body mentally, physically and
spiritually will help boost your cardiovascular fitness. This allows the runner to see the transition from
rest to exercise and it allows them to see the higher the VO2 max the better shape the individual is in.
Thank you for a very thoughtful post and explaining the importance of choices we can make to run the
race Jesus has for us.
References:
Powers, S. K., & Howley, E. T. (2018). Exercise physiology: Theory and application to fitness and
performance (10th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
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