Impact of training volume and experience on amateur Ironman triathlon performance

Rafaella Sinisgalli; Claudio A B de Lira; Rodrigo L Vancini; Paulo J G Puccinelli; Lee Hill; Beat Knechtle; Pantelis T Nikolaidis; Marilia S Andrade

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113344

Impact of training volume and experience on amateur Ironman triathlon performance

Physiol Behav. 2021 Apr 1:232:113344. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113344. Epub 2021 Jan 29.

Authors

Rafaella Sinisgalli¹, Claudio A B de Lira², Rodrigo L Vancini³, Paulo J G Puccinelli¹, Lee Hill⁴, Beat Knechtle⁵, Pantelis T Nikolaidis⁶, Marilia S Andrade⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil.
² Human and Exercise Physiology Division, Faculty of Physical Education and Dance, Federal University of Goiás, Brazil.
³ Center of Physical Education and Sports, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Brazil.
⁴ Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. Electronic address: hilll14@mcmaster.ca.
⁵ Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, 9006 St. Gallen, Switzerland; Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
⁶ School of Health and Caring Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243Athens, Greece.
⁷ Department of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: marilia.andrade@unifesp.br.

PMID: 33516745
DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113344

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the association between training volume, sleep time, signs and symptoms of excessive training (overtraining), and previous triathlon experience with overall and split race times in the Ironman distance triathlon.

Methods: Ninety-nine triathletes (19 women and 80 men) answered an online survey containing questions about anthropometric characteristics (body mass and height), weekly training volume (hours per day and days per week), previous experience in Ironman distance triathlon race, and signs and symptoms of excessive training. Data of race times of all participants were collected by a single race (the Ironman Brazil 2019 - Florianópolis). All surveys were collected between 28 and 30 days before the race. The athlete was instructed to answer the questions according to what was happening in the week before completing the survey.

Results: Total race time did not differ among those who trained up to 14 h per week (11:28:46±01:54:30 h:min:sec), between 15 and 20 h per week (11:37:31±01:20:26 h:min:sec) or more than 20 h per week (11:30:18±01:31:28 h:min:sec) (p = 0.922). Total race time of the triathletes who presented (12:42:22±01:49:36 h:min:sec) or no (11:23:06±01:29:02 h:min:sec) unintentional body mass loss (p = 0.006), feeling (12:46:17±02:03:13 h:min:sec) or no (11:24:09±01:28:07 h:min:sec) of decreased performance (p = 0.009) or feeling (12:08:58±01:47:12 h:min:sec) or no (11:16:34±01:24:53 h:min:sec) loss of energy (p = 0.011) in the week prior to the race were significantly different. Triathletes who had a previous experience in Ironman races achieved a better performance (11:15:21±01:32:04 h:min:sec) than those without previous experience (12:06:38±01:32:10 h:min:sec) (p = 0.010).

Conclusion: In summary, high volumes of training (more than 20 h per week), when performed forty days before a race, may not have a positive impact on performance compared to lower volumes of training (up to 14 h per week). However, athletes who had a previous experience in Ironman race presented better results in swimming splits and overall race time. Moreover, the presence of overtraining symptoms, such as unintentional loss of weight, sensation of fatigue and/or performance decrease impact negatively triathlon performance.

Keywords: Fatigue; Ironman; Online survey; Overload; Overtraining; Performance; Triathlon.

MeSH terms

Athletes
Athletic Performance*
Bicycling
Brazil
Female
Humans
Male
Physical Endurance
Running*
Swimming