Title: PHYSIOLOGICAL PREDICTORS OF COMBINED CYCLING AND RUNNING PERFORMANCE IN TRAINED MALE TRIATHLETES 1262
Abstract:The purpose of this study was to identify physiological variables that may be associated with the cycle and run performance in short course triathlon. Combined cycling and running (CCR) results of an ...The purpose of this study was to identify physiological variables that may be associated with the cycle and run performance in short course triathlon. Combined cycling and running (CCR) results of an early and mid-season triathlon were recorded for 6 trained male triathletes. Subjects were also tested for VO2peak and lactate threshold (LT) during treadmill running and cycle ergometry (VO2peak - run=71.9±1.8, cycle=68.3±3.7mL/kg/min;%VO2peak @LT - run=76±8.9%, cycle=75±8.8%). Each subject also performed a 40min cycle, 1min transition, 20min run trial (PT) and a 20min run-only trial (RO). Both trials were completed at 90% of the mode specific LT. Simple correlation analyses were performed to determine the association of select variables with the standardized z-score for CCR performance times.Table These results indicate that CCR performance is best predicted using variables that incorporate cycling power and changes in running economy post transition. Interestingly, those triathletes who had the most difficulty with the transition from cycling to running (greater%Δkcal/min - PT vs RO) tended to have slower CCR performance times. This study suggests that CCR performance is less associated with markers of individual cycling and running performance and is better explained by those variables that combine the specific physiological demands of triathlon.Read More