Breaking down the barriers: Strength training in long distance triathletes

INTRODUCTION: Long distance triathletes complete large endurance training volumes with approximately half reporting to including some form of strength training (ST) in their program. However, the characteristics of this ST is currently unknown. Despite not all triathletes incorporating ST, research indicates that the completion of concurrent strength and endurance training in runners, cyclists and short course triathletes can significantly improve cycling and running economy and potentially reduce injury occurrence, likely resulting in performance improvements. Previous research has hypothesised barriers to ST in endurance athletes, however there is no empirical evidence to support such hypotheses. Therefore the primary aims of this investigation were to identify perceived barriers towards the completion of ST in long distance triathletes and ST characteristics. It was hypothesised that long distance triathletes would report limited time available for ST and fear of hypertrophy limiting their endurance performance as primary barriers to ST completion

Role of lactic acidosis as a mediator of sprint-mediated nausea

This study aims to determine whether there is a relationship between nausea level and lactic acidosis during recovery from sprinting. In all, 13 recreationally active males completed a 60 s bout of maximal intensity cycling. Prior to and for 45 min following exercise, blood pH, pCO2, and lactate levels were measured together with nausea. In response to sprinting, nausea, lactate, and H+ concentrations increased and remained elevated for at least 10 min (p \u3c .001), whereas pCO2 increased only transiently (p \u3c .001) before falling below pre-exercise levels (p \u3c .001), with all these variables returning toward pre-exercise levels during recovery. Both measures of nausea adopted for analyses (nausea profile, NP; visual analogue scale, VAS), demonstrated significant repeated measures correlation (rmcorr) post-exercise between nausea and plasma lactate (VAS and NPrrm\u3e 0.595, p \u3c .0001) and H+ concentrations (VAS and NPrrm\u3e 0.689, p \u3c .0001), but an inconsistent relationship with pCO2 (VAS rrm = 0.250, p = .040; NP rrm = 0.144, p = .248) and bicarbonate levels (VAS rrm = −0.252, p = .095; NP rrm = −0.397, p = .008). Linear mixed modeling was used to predict the trajectory of nausea over time, with both lactate and H+ concentrations found to be key predictors of nausea (p \u3c .0001). In conclusion, this study reveals a strong positive relationship between nausea and both H+ and lactate concentrations during recovery from sprinting, a finding consistent with H+ and lactate being potential mediators of nausea post-sprinting. However, as the timing of the recovery of both H+ and lactate was delayed, compared to that of nausea, further research is required to confirm these findings and investigate other potential mechanisms

The effects of compression garments on intermittent exercise performance and recovery on consecutive days

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether compression garments improve intermittent-sprint performance and aid performance or self-reported recovery from high-intensity efforts on consecutive days. \ud \ud Methods: Following familiarization, 14 male rugby players performed two randomized testing conditions (with or without garments) involving consecutive days of a simulated team sport exercise protocol, separated by 24 h of recovery within each condition and 2 weeks between conditions. Each day involved an 80-min high-intensity exercise circuit, with exercise performance determined by repeated 20-m sprints and peak power on a cart dynamometer (single-man scrum machine). Measures of nude mass, heart rate, skin and tympanic temperature, and blood lactate (La−) were recorded throughout each day; also, creatine kinase (CK) and muscle soreness were recorded each day and 48 h following exercise. \ud \ud Results: No differences (P = .20 to 0.40) were present between conditions on either day of the exercise protocol for repeated 20-m sprint efforts or peak power on a cart dynamometer. Heart rate, tympanic temperature, and body mass did not significantly differ between conditions; however, skin temperature was higher under the compression garments. Although no differences (P = .50) in La− or CK were present, participants felt reduced levels of perceived muscle soreness in the ensuing 48 h postexercise when wearing the garments (2.5 ± 1.7 vs 3.5 ± 2.1 for garment and control; P = .01). \ud \ud Conclusions: The use of compression garments did not improve or hamper simulated team-sport activity on consecutive days. Despite benefits of reduced self-reported muscle soreness when wearing garments during and following exercise each day, no improvements in performance or recovery were apparent

The reliability of physiological responses obtained during a simulated long distance triathlon laboratory test

The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of a newly developed long distance (LD) simulated triathlon for testing performance and physiological changes in LD triathletes. Ten trained LD triathletes (mean ± standard deviation: age 34.1 ± 5.0 years, body mass 69.07 ± 13.89 kg) completed two separate trials of a simulated LD triathlon consisting of a 1500 m swim, a 60 minute cycle at 60% of power at VO2max and a 20 minute run at 70% of velocity at VO2max. Performance (time, pace, power and rating of perceived exertion) and physiological (economy of movement (oxygen cost and energy consumption), blood lactate and heart rate)variables were measured throughout the simulated LD triathlon. Coefficient of variations (CV %) and intra class correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to determine reliability. The current study displayed a high level of reliability, with moderate to excellent ICC measurements for performance and physiological variables (ICC 0.62 – 0.99). All physiological variables, except blood lactate, demonstrated CV values \u3c 10%. In conclusion, the newly developed LD simulated triathlon has a high level of task representation for LD triathletes and can accurately assess performance changes in a research setting