Why You Slow down. Flush Model of Fatigue with Dr Guillaume Millet

What is Fatigue?

Fatigue resistance is the critical component of endurance exercise. Fatigue can be defined as strength loss (i.e. a decrease in maximal voluntary contraction [MVC]), which is known to be dependent on the type of exercise you are doing. Important variables include the intensity and duration of the activity, as well as the muscle groups involved and the type of muscle contraction (Figure 1.)

Measuring Fatigue

Traditionally, to measure the level of muscular fatigue a test of maximal voluntary contraction (MVCs) and maximal electrical/magnetic stimulations is used. These tests provide an insight into whether “the brain” (central nervous system) is failing to contract the muscle, or if the muscle itself (peripheral) is fatigued and unable to produce force.

However, such measurements do not necessarily predict how muscle function may influence ultra-endurance running because the muscle is always able to produce MVCs at forces that far exceed the forces require to run.

In other words, the nature of the relationship between fatigue as measured using maximal contractions/stimulation and submaximal performance limitation/regulation is questionable.

Introducing The Flush Model

Dr Guillaume Millet (Gui) suggests a holistic model that can be applied to all endurance activities and is specifically adapted to ultra-endurance running: the Flush Model (Figure 2.).

The Flush Model model has the following four components:

The ball-cock (or buoy)
The filling rate
The water evacuated through the waste pipe; emptying rate
A security reserve

Understanding the Four Components

The Ball-Cock

The Ball-Cock represents your rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Ideally, at the start of a race, your RPE is zero. However, if you’ve had a bad nights sleep you may be starting at 1 or 2.

The Filling Rate

The filling rate represents the rate at which you are building fatigue or at least the perception of fatigue. If you were undertaking a leisurely stroll, you would have a very slow filling rate because there is very little contributing to your RPE.

However, if you were racing a marathon in 40⁰C (104°F) heat with a stomach ache your filling rate would be rapid, and your RPE would start high and increase shortly after the start.

3. Emptying Rate

The emptying rate reflects your ability to attenuate your fatigue. That is your mental and physical capacity to reduce your RPE throughout the race. In the above hot marathon example, you could douse yourself in iced water to reduce your core temperature or go to the toilet to relieve your sore stomach.

In the later stages of the race, your mental capacity to endure pain and avoid unproductive thoughts will help to ensure your RPE does not continue to increase to the point of the critical reserve or stopping point.

4. Critical Reserve

The critical reserve is the failsafe that sets the upper limit of exertion. The critical reserve is designed to avoid catastrophic failure (i.e. death). using the hot marathon example, if you continued to run an accumulate heat you would eventually suffer heat illness. To avoid heat illness, your RPE will increase to the level of the critical reserve and you will voluntarily stop or involuntarily collapse (See episode 70)

How Can The Flush Model Help You?

The Flush Model explains how environmental conditions, sleep deprivation/mental fatigue, pain-killers or psychostimulants, cognitive or nutritional strategies may affect endurance performance.

If you are able to understand which of the four components of the Flush Model is slowing you down, you can specifically target the variables that influence those components.

Application For Weekend Warriors;

The Critical Reserve (4).

As Gui stated within the interview. “Most people will agree that it’s the top two inches that count, but almost no one will train the brain”. Increasing your mental capacity to handle discomfort can raise your critical reserve and therefore allow you to compete at a higher discomfort level. That could result in an extra 10 watts or 10sec/km at the end of a race. (See Episode 31)

The Ball-Cock (1).

Weekend warriors are traditionally hardworking busy individuals with families. The number of stressors you have in your day-to-day life will impact your RPE on the start line. The goal is to have your ball-cock at the lowest level possible. Focusing on rest and relaxation in the days leading up to your A-race will help reduce the time it takes to reach your critical reserve.

The Filling Rate (2)

Start easy, finish fast. Pacing is major talking point on the Performance Advantage Podcast (See Webinar Series 1 or Episode 33). If you start too fast you will increase your filling rate and you’ll hit your critical reserve quicker. Appropriate pacing will allow you to minimise your filling rate and subsequently perform at a higher level for longer.

Conclusion

If you combine the application of mental skills, some race week r’n’r, and appropriate race pacing you could significantly improve your performance without doing any more physical training, WIN!