Performance and sex differences in 'Isklar Norseman Xtreme Triathlon'.
The performance and sex differences of long-distance triathletes competing in 'Ironman Hawaii' are well investigated. However, less information is available with regards to triathlon races of the Ironman distance held under extreme environmental conditions (e.g. extreme cold) such as the 'Isklar Norseman Xtreme Triathlon' which started in 2003. In 'Isklar Norseman Xtreme Triathlon', athletes swim at a water temperature of ~13-15°C, cycle at temperatures of ~5-20°C and run at temperatures of ~12-28°C in the valley and of ~2-12°C at Mt. Gaustatoppen. This study analysed the performance trends and sex differences in 'Isklar Norseman Xtreme Triathlon' held from 2003 to 2015 using mixed-effects regression analyses. During this period, a total of 175 women (10.6%) and 1,852 men (89.4%) successfully finished the race. The number of female (r² = 0.53, P = 0.0049) and male (r² = 0.37, P = 0.0271) finishers increased and the men-to-women ratio decreased (r² = 0.86, P < 0.0001). Men were faster than women in cycling (25.41 ± 2.84 km/h versus 24.25 ± 2.17 km/h) (P < 0.001), but not in swimming (3.06 ± 0.62 km/h vs. 2.94 ± 0.57 km/h), running (7.43 ± 1.13 km/h vs. 7.31 ± 0.93 km/h) and overall race time (874.57 ± 100.62 min vs. 899.95 ± 90.90 min) (P > 0.05). Across years, women improved in swimming and both women and men improved in cycling and in overall race time (P < 0.001). In running, however, neither women nor men improved (P > 0.05). In summary, in 'Isklar Norseman Xtreme Triathlon' from 2003 to 2015, the number of successful women increased across years, women achieved a similar performance to men in swimming, cycling and overall race time, and women improved across years in swimming, cycling and overall race time.
Gesundheitszentrum St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Beat
B
Knechtle
Department of Physical and Cultural Education, Hellenic Army Academy, Athens, Greece.
Pantelis Theodoros
PT
Nikolaidis
Department of Physical and Cultural Education, Hellenic Army Academy, Athens, Greece.
Michael
M
Stiefel
Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Thomas
T
Rosemann
Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Christoph Alexander
CA
Rüst
D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics
athlete; cycling; man; running; swimming; woman