Steady-Pace vs. Variable Speed in High School 220-Yard Run

Abstract

Freshman high school boys were given three weeks of group practice in their physical education class, in running 80 and 160 yd. at a steady pace. A timing gong was sounded at the instant the runner was supposed to be crossing each of a series of 20-yd. marks. During the third week, individual time trials were made in a 220-yd. run without the gong. Two runs were of the steady-pace pattern and a third was made at “all-out” speed throughout to secure a variable-pace high-decrement pattern. Time trials were repeated during a fourth week. The steady-pace run average 0.6 sec. faster (t = 3.85) than the all-out run, and the boys reported less fatigue.