Expert: Ken Alan - 7/12/2007

Question
Hi Ken, my question is not about aerobics, but I hope it may fall within your expertise. I work out and am a boxing fan, and have a question about cardio performance in boxing.

I notice that some boxers (mostly heavyweights that I watch) seem to get to the fourth or fifth round and then seem to tire quite visibly, sometimes to the point where they look vulnerable and that they might just "gas out".

However, in the following rounds they seem to get what I have heard termed as a "second wind" where they find their energy again and look as good as they did in the earlier rounds.

I would like to know if this pattern is related to warming up and if there is a physiological basis for the "second wind". Does the body first have to experience this kind of temporary exhaustion before it becomes more efficient in its performance, even in a trained athlete who is very fit?

Also, if you happen to know, could any of that pattern be down to psyhcology?

Best Regards

Mike Turner

Answer
Good question.  There is no one answer to it.  Much of this has to do with the mental state as well as the physical state.  The body doesn't have to reach a temporary exhaustion point before a second wind kicks in.  For some, a second wind never kicks in.  They become tired and continue to tire.  For others, they maintain their energy pretty evenly through a bout.  For others, the adrenaline gets going somewhere along the way.  Much of this has been attributed to the mental state in an athlete.  Sports psychologists study this phenomenon trying to identify the factors that contribute to this.

Warming up may indeed effect performance, both positive and negative.  It depends on how long the warm-up, how intense it is, and how use to the warm up the athlete is accustomed to.  

Hope this helps.