Relationship between physiological parameters and performance during a half-ironman triathlon in the heat.
Triathlon is a popular outdoor endurance sport performed under a variety of environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to assess physiological variables before and after a half-ironman triathlon in the heat and to analyse their relationship with performance. Thirty-four well-trained triathletes completed a half-ironman triathlon in a mean dry temperature of 29 ± 3ºC. Before and within 1 min after the end of the race, body mass, core temperature, maximal jump height and venous blood samples were obtained. Mean race time was 315 ± 40 min, with swimming (11 ± 1%), cycling (49 ± 2%) and running (40 ± 3%) representing different amounts of the total race time. At the end of the competition, body mass changed by -3.8 ± 1.6% and the change in body mass correlated positively with race time (r = 0.64; P < 0.001). Core temperature increased from 37.5 ± 0.6ºC to 38.8 ± 0.7ºC (P < 0.001) and post-race core temperature correlated negatively with race time (r = -0.47; P = 0.007). Race time correlated positively with the decrease in jump height (r = 0.38; P = 0.043), post-race serum creatine kinase (r = 0.55; P = 0.001) and myoglobin concentrations (r = 0.39; P = 0.022). In a half-ironman triathlon in the heat, greater reductions in body mass and higher post-competition core temperatures were present in faster triathletes. In contrast, slower triathletes presented higher levels of muscle damage and decreased muscle performance.
a Sport Sciences Institute, Camilo José Cela University , Madrid , Spain.
Juan
J
Del Coso
Cristina
C
González
Javier
J
Abian-Vicen
Juan José
JJ
Salinero Martín
Lidon
L
Soriano
Francisco
F
Areces
Diana
D
Ruiz
Cesar
C
Gallo
Beatriz
B
Lara
Julio
J
Calleja-González
D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D001831:Body Temperature; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009211:Myoglobin / Q000097:blood; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D015431:Weight Loss
D009211:Myoglobin; D003402:Creatine Kinase
dehydration; endurance athlete; muscle damage; myoglobin; performance