Impact of training volume and experience on amateur Ironman triathlon performance

• Published in: Physiology & behavior 2021-04, Vol.232, p.113344-113344, Article 113344
• Main Authors: Sinisgalli, Rafaella, de Lira, Claudio A.B., Vancini, Rodrigo L., Puccinelli, Paulo J.G., Hill, Lee, Knechtle, Beat, Nikolaidis, Pantelis T., Andrade, Marilia S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fatigue; Ironman; Online survey; Overload; Overtraining; Triathlon
• ISSN: 0031-9384; 1873-507X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113344

•The previous experience in triathlon races may positively impact amateur triathlete performance.•Increasing the training hours for the amateur triathlete may not positively impact performance.•The presence of symptoms linked to overtraining may negatively impact triathlon performance. 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. 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. : 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). 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 negative