Physiologic testing of the ultraendurance triathlete

Abstract

With the ever growing popularity of the sport of triathlon, numerous studies have been done in an attempt to characterize the triathlete and to identify physiologic variables important to success in triathlon racing. Studies of the ultraendurance triathlete fall into the following categories: 1) general physical and physiologic characterizations, 2) metabolic responses to prolonged exercise, and 3) the relationship of physiologic test variables to actual competitive performance. Physically and physiologically, triathletes tend to resemble other endurance athletes, with many characteristics similar to elite endurance cyclists. VO2max is widely variable in triathletes and has been reported to range from 40 to 85 ml.kg-1.min-1. The physiologic bases for success in ultraendurance triathlons are not clearly understood at this time. Physiologic variables that have been investigated include VO2max, cycling economy, %VO2max, and %HRmax at lactate and ventilatory thresholds and sustained %HRmax under actual race conditions. Although all of these factors appear to interrelate to influence actual triathlon race performance, the exact interrelationship is unclear at this time.