title: Improvement of Sprint Triathlon Performance in Trained Athletes With Positive Swim Pacing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of 3 swim-pacing profiles on subsequent performance during a sprint-distance triathlon (SDT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine competitive/trained male triathletes completed 5 experimental sessions including a graded running exhaustion test, a 750-m swim time trial (STT), and 3 SDTs. The swim times of the 3 SDTs were matched, but pacing was manipulated to induce positive (ie, speed gradually decreasing from 92% to 73% STT), negative (ie, speed gradually increasing from 73% to 92% STT), or even pacing (constant 82.5% STT). The remaining disciplines were completed at a self-selected maximal pace. Speed over the entire triathlon, power output during the cycle discipline, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) for each discipline, and heart rate during the cycle and run were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Faster cycle and overall triathlon times were achieved with positive swim pacing (30.5 ± 1.8 and 65.9 ± 4.0 min, respectively), as compared with the even (31.4 ± 1.0 min, P = .018 and 67.7 ± 3.9 min, P = .034, effect size [ES] = 0.46, respectively) and negative (31.8 ± 1.6 min, P = .011 and 67.3 ± 3.7 min, P = .041, ES = 0.36, respectively) pacing. Positive swim pacing elicited a lower RPE (9 ± 2) than negative swim pacing (11 ± 2, P = .014). No differences were observed in the other measured variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A positive swim pacing may improve overall SDT performance and should be considered by both elite and age-group athletes during racing.
authors.forename: Sam S X
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jeremiah J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Peiffer
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peeling
authors.forename: Jeanick
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brisswalter
authors.forename: Wing Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nosaka
authors.forename: Chris R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Abbiss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance; D012420:Running; D012649:Self Concept; D013550:Swimming; D013997:Time Factors; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cycle; even pacing; negative pacing; pacing strategy; run