AQA GCSE Physical Education Paper 1: The human body and movement in physical activity and sport, June 2025: Question 26

9 marks · Hard difficulty · Extended Response

Analyse how the long-term effects of regular continuous training would improve a runner's performance in a marathon.

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Question 26 asks: 'Analyse how the long-term effects of regular continuous training would improve a runner's performance in a marathon. [9 marks]', followed by lined answer space extending into an extra space section.
Question text

26 Analyse how the long-term effects of regular continuous training would improve a

runner’s performance in a marathon.

[9 marks]

Extra space

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme Mark scheme for question 26 indicating a total of 9 marks broken down into AO1 (2 marks), AO2 (2 marks), and AO3 (5 marks). It provides a level of response grid from Level 1 (1–3 marks) to Level 3 (7–9 marks) with descriptors. Indicative content is listed for AO1 (knowledge of continuous training), AO2 (long-term adaptations such as cardiac hypertrophy, bradycardia, and increased stamina), and AO3 (analysis linking physiological changes directly to improved marathon running performance).

26 Analyse how the long-term effects of regular continuous training would improve a

runner’s performance in a marathon.

[9 marks]

Marks for this question: AO1 = 2, AO2 = 2, AO3 = 5

Level Mark Descriptor

Knowledge of regular continuous training is accurate and generally well

detailed. Application to a runner is mostly appropriate, clear and effective.

Evaluation is thorough, reaching valid and well-reasoned conclusions for

3 7–9

the appropriateness of regular continuous training. The answer is generally

clear, coherent and focused, with appropriate use of terminology

throughout.

Knowledge of regular continuous training is evident. There is some

appropriate and effective application to a runner, although not always

balanced and presented with clarity. Any evaluation is clear reaching valid

2 4–6

and well-reasoned conclusions for some points on appropriateness more

than others. The answer lacks coherence in places, although terminology is

used appropriately on occasions.

Knowledge of regular continuous training is limited. Application to a runner

is either absent or inappropriate. Evaluation is poorly focused or absent,

1 1–3

with few or no reasoned conclusions. The answer as a whole lacks clarity

and has inaccuracies. Terminology is either absent or inappropriately used.

00 No relevant content.

Possible content may include:

AO1 – Knowledge of continuous training eg

• Sustained exercise at a constant rate (steady state) without rests.

• Involves aerobic demand for a minimum of 20 minutes.

• Aerobic exercise is that completed with oxygen/when exercise is not too fast and is steady, the heart

can supply all the oxygen that the working muscles need.

• eg running, swimming, rowing, cycling.

AO2 – Long term effects of continuous training eg

• Body shape may change due to a decrease in weight.

• Improved muscular endurance from repetitive actions.

• Improved cardiovascular endurance/stamina.– – –

• Increased size of the heart (hypertrophy).

• lower resting heart rate (bradycardia).

AO3 – Analysis of how the long-term effects of regular continuous training would improve

performance in a marathon eg

• If the athlete is lighter they will require less energy to carry their weight around the course meaning

they will delay the onset of fatigue/be able to run at a faster average pace.

26• Improved muscular endurance will mean that the specific muscles they are using eg

quadriceps/gastrocnemius will be able to produce greater force for longer periods of time before they

fatigue.

• A larger heart will mean more blood can be pumped out per beat/increased stroke volume.

• This will result in more oxygen being delivered to working muscles so they can perform aerobically

even when the athlete is running at higher intensities.

• Lower resting heart rate combined with a higher SV means that an athlete is able to work at higher

intensities with a lower HR which means they will be able to exercise at a higher intensity for

longer/they will fatigue more slowly.

• As a marathon is an aerobic event cardiovascular endurance/stamina is the most important

component of fitness.

• If the runner has higher levels of cardiovascular endurance/stamina they will be able to run at a higher

average speed over the duration of the race increasing their chances of winning/achieving a PB.

Accept any other relevant analysis of how the long-term effects of regular continuous training

would improve performance in a marathon.

How to answer it

AQA GCSE Physical Education • Paper 1

Long-Term Adaptations to Continuous Training for a Marathon Runner

What this question tests

This 9-mark extended response question assesses three distinct assessment objectives:

  • AO1 (2 marks): Recall and understanding of continuous training principles and aerobic exercise.
  • AO2 (2 marks): Application to physiological adaptations (long-term effects of training on bodily systems).
  • AO3 (5 marks): In-depth analysis linking these physiological adaptations directly to improved marathon running performance.

Question 2.6 (9 Marks)

"Analyse how the long-term effects of regular continuous training would improve a runner's performance in a marathon."

Mark Allocation: AO1 = 2 marks | AO2 = 2 marks | AO3 = 5 marks (Marked via Levels of Response: Level 3 = 7–9 marks, Level 2 = 4–6 marks, Level 1 = 1–3 marks).

Key Content Breakdown

💡 AO1: Knowledge of Continuous Training

  • Continuous training: Sustained physical activity performed at a steady, sub-maximal pace without any periods of rest.
  • Duration: Exercising for a minimum threshold of 20 minutes.
  • Energy System: Predominantly aerobic (exercise with oxygen, where heart and lungs supply sufficient O₂ to working muscles).
  • Examples: Sustained running, swimming, cycling, or rowing.

📐 AO2: Physiological Long-Term Adaptations

  • Cardiac Hypertrophy: Increase in the size and muscular strength of the heart wall (especially the left ventricle).
  • Increased Stroke Volume (SV): More blood pumped out per contraction.
  • Resting Bradycardia: Lower resting heart rate (below 60 bpm).
  • Muscular Endurance: Increased capillarisation, mitochondrial density, and myoglobin stores in slow-twitch fibres.
  • Body Composition: Decreased body fat / weight loss due to energy expenditure.

🧠 Exam Technique: Building "AO1 → AO2 → AO3" Chains

To reach Level 3 (7–9 marks), you must build connected analytical chains. Most marks come from AO3 (5 marks), showing how and why each change helps in the 26.2-mile event.

AO1 (Concept) Continuous training trains the aerobic system at steady state without rest.
AO2 (Adaptation) Results in cardiac hypertrophy (larger, stronger heart walls) and increased stroke volume.
AO3 (Analysis for Marathon) A greater stroke volume means more oxygen-rich blood is delivered to working leg muscles (e.g. quadriceps, gastrocnemius) with each beat. This allows the runner to maintain a faster running pace aerobically without accumulating lactic acid, delaying fatigue over 26.2 miles.
AO1 (Concept) Involves repetitive muscle contractions sustained over a long duration (>20 mins).
AO2 (Adaptation) Promotes muscular endurance and increased capillarisation around slow-twitch muscle fibres.
AO3 (Analysis for Marathon) Working muscles can generate repeated sub-maximal forces without fatiguing. This ensures running form and stride efficiency do not break down in the final miles, lowering energy expenditure.
AO1 (Concept) Uses aerobic respiration, metabolising glycogen and fatty acids continuously.
AO2 (Adaptation) Leads to a reduction in excess body fat and a lower body weight.
AO3 (Analysis for Marathon) Carrying less non-functional body mass reduces the energy cost per stride, reducing cardiac workload and enabling the athlete to run faster or complete the distance in a quicker personal best (PB) time.

✅ Model Level 3 Answer (9/9 Marks)

Continuous training involves sustained exercise at a steady rate without rest intervals for a minimum duration of 20 minutes, using aerobic energy systems where oxygen supply meets demand.

A key long-term adaptation is cardiac hypertrophy, where the muscular walls of the heart (particularly the left ventricle) become thicker and stronger. This increases stroke volume (SV)—the volume of blood pumped per beat. For a marathon runner, a higher stroke volume means more oxygenated blood and nutrients are delivered to working muscles like the gastrocnemius and quadriceps. Because cardiac output is maintained more efficiently, the runner has a lower resting and sub-maximal heart rate (bradycardia). This allows the athlete to run at higher intensities while remaining in their aerobic zone, delaying the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) and preventing early fatigue across 26.2 miles.

Furthermore, regular continuous running improves muscular endurance in the lower limbs through increased capillary density and myoglobin levels. In a marathon, this enables the runner's legs to produce repetitive muscle contractions over several hours without losing stride power or running mechanics.

Finally, long-term continuous training increases caloric expenditure and burns fat stores, leading to an optimal body composition and weight loss. Carrying less body mass reduces the mechanical energy required per stride, allowing the runner to maintain a faster average pace, delay physical exhaustion, and improve their finishing time.

Examiner Commentary: Traps to Avoid

❌ Common Errors

  • Short-term vs Long-term: Describing immediate responses to exercise (e.g. "heart rate increases during the run") instead of chronic adaptations (e.g. "cardiac hypertrophy" or "lower resting heart rate").
  • Listing without analysis: Stating "stroke volume increases" but failing to explain how this actually helps during the marathon (missing out on 5 AO3 marks!).
  • Vague benefits: Writing "they get fitter" or "they run better" instead of precise terminology like "delays fatigue", "faster average pace", or "prevents lactic acid buildup".

🧠 Top-Level Differentiators

  • Named muscle groups: Naming specific muscles (e.g., quadriceps, hamstrings, gastrocnemius) to secure high AO2 marks.
  • Technical terms: Correctly integrating terms such as hypertrophy, bradycardia, stroke volume, and aerobic threshold.
  • Clear justification: Always answering the "So what?" question: Why does having a larger stroke volume matter in the 20th mile of a marathon?

Topics

3.1 The human body and movement in physical activity and sport · 3.1.1 Applied anatomy and physiology · 3.1.3 Physical training

Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Physical Education examination, Paper 1: The human body and movement in physical activity and sport, June 2025. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.