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Amateur Female Athletes Perform the Running Split of a Triathlon Race at Higher Relative Intensity than the Male Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study

Authors :
Guilherme Corrêa De Araújo Moury Fernandes
José G. G. Barbosa Junior
Aldo Seffrin
Lavínia Vivan
Claudio A. B. de Lira
Rodrigo L. Vancini
Katja Weiss
Beat Knechtle
Marilia S. Andrade
Source :
Healthcare, Vol 11, Iss 3, p 418 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

Maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max), ventilatory threshold (VT) and respiratory compensation point (RCP) can be used to monitor the training intensity and the race strategy, and the elucidation of the specificities existing between the sexes can be interesting for coaches and athletes. The aim of the study was to compare ventilatory threshold (VT), respiratory compensation point (RCP), and the percentage of the maximal aerobic speed (MAS) that can be maintained in a triathlon race between sexes. Forty-one triathletes (22 men and 19 women), 42.1 ± 8.4 (26 to 60) years old, that raced the same Olympic triathlon underwent a cardiorespiratory maximal treadmill test to assess their VT, RPC, and MAS, and race speed. The maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max) (54.0 ± 5.1 vs. 49.8 ± 7.7 mL/kg/min, p < 0.001) and MAS (17 ± 2 vs. 15 ± 2 km/h, p = 0.001) were significantly higher in male than in female athletes. Conversely, there were no sex differences according to the percentage of V˙O2max reached at VT (74.4 ± 4.9 vs. 76.1 ± 5.4%, p = 0.298) and RCP (89.9 ± 3.6 vs. 90.6 ± 4.0%, p = 0.560). The mean speed during the race did not differ between sexes (12.1 ± 1.7 km/h and 11.7 ± 1.8 km/h, p = 0.506, respectively). Finally, men performed the running split at a lower percentage of speed at RCP than women (84.0 ± 8.7 vs. 91.2 ± 7.0%, respectively, p = 0.005). Therefore, male and female athletes accomplished the running split in an Olympic triathlon distance at distinct relative intensities, as female athletes run at a higher RCP percentage.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
22279032
Volume :
11
Issue :
3
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Healthcare
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.5a8b728441bd4f8fb652a5150b67c698
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11030418