Relationship of exercise test variables to cycling performance in an Ironman triathlon

Abstract

The purpose of this study was, firstly, to investigate the intensity of exercise performance of highly trained ultra-endurance triathletes during the cycling portion of an Ironman triathlon, and, secondly, to examine the anaerobic threshold and its relationship to this performance. Following a peak oxygen consumption (VO(2peak)) test on a cycle ergometer to determine the heart rate (HR(Th,vent)) and power output (PO(Th,vent)) at the ventilatory threshold (Th(vent)), 11 highly trained male triathletes [mean (SEM) age 35.8 (1.6) years, body fat 11.7 (1.2)%. VO(2peak) 67.5 (1.0) ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)] who were participating in an Ironman triathlon, in random order: (1) cycled at their PO(Th,vent) (Bi(Th,vent)) until they were exhausted, and (2) cycled for 5 h at a self-selected intensity (Bi(SSI)). Cycling power output (PO), oxygen uptake (VO(2)), heart rate (HR) and blood lactate concentration ([La(-)](b)) were recorded at regular intervals during these trials, while performance HR was recorded during the cycling phase of the Ironman triathlon. Significantly greater (P < 0.05) values were attained during Bi(Th,vent) than during Bi(SSI) for PO [274 (9) compared to 188 (9) W], VO(2) [3.61 (0.15) compared to 2.64 (0.09) l x min(-1)], and [La(-)](b) [6.7 (0.8) compared to 2.8 (0.4) mmol x l(-1)]. Moreover, mean HR during the Ironman triathlon cycle phase [146.3 (2.4) beats.min(-1); n=7] was significantly greater than mean HR during Bi(SSI) [130 (4) beats x min(-1)], and significantly less than mean HR during Bi(Th,vent) [159 (3) beats x min(-1); all P < 0.05]. However, HR during the cycle portion of the Ironman triathlon was highly related to (r = 0.873; P < 0.05) and not significantly different to HR(Th,vent) [150 (4) beats x min(-1)]. These data suggest that ultra-endurance triathletes cycle during the Ironman triathlon at a HR intensity that approximates to HR(Th,vent), but at a PO that is significantly below PO(Th,vent).

Respostas lactacidêmicas de ratos ao treinamento intermitente de alta intensidade

“…The blood lactate concentrations let us evaluate the predominance of the participation of the aerobic or anaerobic system in response to an acute 9 or chronic physical exercise 13 . Therefore, they have been used for prediction of the physical exercise intensity with the goal to optimize performance and/or minimize the pathological metabolic alterations as wellas to evaluate the metabolic responses to training 14 .…”

“…Additionally, the intensity increase is performed with weight addition corresponding to the body weight 4 or a maximum repetition 8 . High-intensity physical training performed for short periods of time has significant effects on the anaerobic glycolytic system, in a way that the increase of the ATP production is followed by increase of muscular lactate production 9 . The use of blood lactate concentrations has been an instrument constantly used as a marker of exercise intensity in humans 9 and in animal models 2 .…”

“…High-intensity physical training performed for short periods of time has significant effects on the anaerobic glycolytic system, in a way that the increase of the ATP production is followed by increase of muscular lactate production 9 . The use of blood lactate concentrations has been an instrument constantly used as a marker of exercise intensity in humans 9 and in animal models 2 . In addition to that, this metabolite has been recently used to indirectly estimate the contribution of the lactic anaerobic metabolism in the energetic supply 10 as well as evaluation of the alactic anaerobic metabolism 11 .…”

Análise do desempenho em atletas de elite no "Ironman" Brasil entre os anos de 2003 a 2010

“…A escolha apenas dos primeiros colocados permite resultados mais precisos sobre as mudanças de desempenho ao longo dos anos, uma vez que os demais colocados apresentam resultados muito diferentes do primeiro lugar 1 . O crescimento do triátlon de longa distância, o maior nível dos atletas e, consequentemente, a maior competitividade, impulsionou a realização de estudos e o melhor entendimento sobre a modalidade ao longo dos anos 2,[8][9][10][11][12][13] . Novos conhecimentos sobre o treinamento realizado sugerem que os atletas com melhor desempenho são os que realizam maiores distâncias semanais e ritmos mais intensos 3,[14][15][16] .…”

Evaluation of Triathlon Suit Characteristics Relevant to Thermophysiology of an Athlete

“…Modern triathlon is an endurance sport that consists of a multiple-stage competition involving swimming, cycling, and running in consecutive order to challenge the stamina of its participants, much more than swimming, cycling, or running alone [1,2]. At Olympic triathlon race distance the event comprises 1.5 km swimming, 40 km cycling, 10 km running, whereas the Ironman triathlon race distance is 3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling, 42.2 km running [3].…”