The development of pacing behaviour during adolescence differs between men and women: a longitudinal study in long-track speed skating

INTRODUCTION:
The development of pacing behaviour (i.e. the outcome of the decision-making process regarding the distribution of effort over an exercise task) during adolescence has been established in literature [1]. However, the majority of the literature features only men and has a cross-sectional design, which is deficient in detecting developmental change. Given the established differences in maturation and cognitive development between sexes, it is hypothesised that there are differences in pacing behaviour development between men and women [2]. The current study tested this hypothesis by longitudinally tracking the development of pacing behaviour of talented long-track speed skaters of both sexes throughout adolescence.

METHODS:
89 talented Dutch long-track speed skaters (48 women, 41 men) who were between 13 and 20 years old and performed 1500m races during two or more seasons between 2009 and 2013, were included in the study (294 performances: 158 by women, 136 by men). The split times of each skaters’ season best 1500m time were converted into relative section times (RST) (i.e. the percentage of total time spent in each section of the race) in order to control for differences in performance. Using MLwiN (P<0.05), longitudinal multilevel prediction models in which repeated measures (level 1) were nested within individual athletes (level 2), were used to analyse the effect of sex (men = 0, women = 1) and age (13 years old indicated age = 0) on RST.

RESULTS:
RST 0-300m at 13 years old was lower for women than men (-1.44%) and was impacted by age for women (0.48%*age - 0.05%*age^2), there was no age effect for men. RST 300-700m at 13 years old was lower for women (-0.55%) and was impacted by age for women (0.20%*age - 0.03%*age^2) and men (-0.07*age). RST 700-1100m at 13 years old was higher for women (0.70%) and impacted by age for women (-0.36%*age + 0.03%*age^2) and men (-0.08%*age). RST 1100-1500m at 13 years old was higher for women (1.43%) and impacted by age for women (-0.51%*age + 0.04%*age^2) and men (0.18%*age).

CONCLUSION:
The multilevel models indicate that the effect of age on RST in women is characterized by a quadratic relationship, indicating a decrease in the development of pacing behaviour during late adolescence (17-19 years old). On the other hand, the effect of age on RST in men is characterised by a linear relationship, indicating a continuation of pacing behaviour development through late adolescence and into early adulthood. These findings suit previous literature, which describes women’ musculoskeletal maturation to drop off after ~17 years of age, whereas men’ muscles growth continues into their twenties [2]. Moreover, women exhibit an earlier onset and completion of puberty related cognitive development, compared to men [2]. Coaches should take into consideration not only that the pacing behaviour of athletes develops during adolescence, but also that this development differs between sexes.

1.Menting et al. (2019)
2.Elferink-Gemser & Hettinga (2017)