Self-Selected Pacing During a World Record Attempt in 40 Ironman-Distance Triathlons in 40 Days

Caio Victor Sousa, Rinaldo Wellerson Pereira, Thomas Rosemann, Pantelis T. Nikolaidis and Beat Knechtle
Additional contact information
Caio Victor Sousa: College of Arts, Media & Design, Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Rinaldo Wellerson Pereira: Genomic Science and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70790-160, Brazil
Thomas Rosemann: Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
Pantelis T. Nikolaidis: Exercise Physiology Laboratory, 18450 Nikaia, Greece
Beat Knechtle: Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-14

Abstract: The present case study analyzed performance, pacing, and potential predictors in a self-paced world record attempt of a professional triathlete to finish 40 Ironman-distance triathlons within 40 days. Split times (i.e., swimming, cycling, running) and overall times, body weight, daily highest temperature, wind speed, energy expenditure, mean heart rate, and sleeping time were recorded. Non-linear regressions were applied to investigate changes in split and overall times across days. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to test which variables showed the greatest influence on the dependent variables cycling, running and overall time. The athlete completed the 40×Ironman distances in a total time of 444:22 h:min. He spent 50:26 h:min in swimming, 245:37 h:min in cycling, 137:17 h:min in running and 11:02 h:min in transition times. Swimming and cycling times became slower across days, whereas running times got faster until the 20th day and, thereafter, became slower until the 40th day. Overall times got slower until the 15th day, became faster to 31st, and started then to get slower until the end. Wind speed, previous day’s race time and average heart race during cycling were significant independent variables influencing cycling time. Body weight and average heart rate during running were significant independent variables influencing running performance. Cycling performance, running performance, and body weight were significant independent variables influencing overall time. In summary, running time was influenced by body weight, cycling by wind speed, and overall time by both running and cycling performances.

Keywords: swimming; cycling; running; ultra-endurance; recovery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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