Written by Frederic SULTANA, Engineer,
Doctor of Science of Human Movement (PhD)
Coach belonging to the WTS network
And also coach at the Aquatic Club Hyèrois, and Hyeres Triathlon (France)

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Raise endurance for Ironman 70.3

Triathlon is an endurance sport. The development of this ability is an essential goal of triathlon training. It’s about becoming able to withstand fatigue in a long-lasting ordeal. The triathlete needs to develop his endurance at the right level and devote himself to it wisely. So what volume and how to go for a Half Ironman?

Raise the Training Volume

A first approach to training can lead to trying to push back the threshold of fatigue by increasing the workload to reach and push its limits. On the social networks, many triathletes like to exhibit their ability to train without really having made the link with their sporting goal, the duration of the test but also with their physical and psychological abilities. In practice « Ironman », a system of overbidding is installed.

Professional triathletes feed it: the number of training hours per week goes from 25 hours, to 30 hours, to 35 hours, to 40 hours, … The link between the ability to train and the endurance performance is real. It is all the more relevant that the test is of long duration. However, it is not a question of training all the year with only variable the volume of training that is measured in hours, km, Kcal, … A good planning of its training will make it possible to identify the periods ( or training cycles) for which a goal of training volume is essential and to prepare for it.

The main difficulty at this moment of preparation will be to set oneself to find its limits. For the professional triathlete, he will be able to reach his maximum volume capacity since he is dedicated to this activity full time and that to get there, he will integrate in his training a work of recovery. For the amateur triathlete, the limits will be much more quickly reached: a professional activity, less hours to devote to his training, a work of recovery often neglected … The equation is very different. It must be accepted and especially not to feel guilty If you do not have enough knowledge of you to venture close to your limits, you can use the help of a coach to guide you and avoid falling into the overtraining.
When playing with the training volume, a fundamental rule must be respected: progressivity.

The development of his endurance goes through training cycles with a goal of volume :
– Fixed according to your abilities, your goal and your availability,
– planned in its preparation,
– Coupled with a work of recovery,
– Realized with progressivity.

Developing your endurance by taking into account only the volume is a reductive way to approach: activity, training and performance. Playing only on the training volume can be counterproductive and even dangerous.

Volume but not only…

Scientists have characterized the determinants of endurance performance (1) (2) (3). Existing models suggest that maximal aerobic power (or VO2max), aerobic capacity, and locomotion economy are the most appropriate indices for predicting endurance performance (4), (5), (6). If we consider only cardiorespiratory and energetic factors, a model for predicting the athlete’s running speed (V) according to his VO2max, the fraction of VO2max (F) used and his locomotion economy ( C) is proposed (1). The level of performance of an individual can therefore be characterized :
While this model appears to be generally applicable, performance factors are specific to each mode of triathlon locomotion. The physiological and biomechanical mechanisms differ according to whether one moves on land or in water, running or pedaling. These factors refer to the amount of energy an individual has on exertion and his or her ability to transform that energy according to the type of displacement. With regard to triathlon, it is necessary to define the factors of the performance taken in isolation and for each mode of locomotion. This approach shows that a triathlon coach will be able to easily identify progress tracks by targeting your training objectives according to your perfectible points [discover the WTS coaches]. Endurance is not worked with the « volume » slider. Endurance performance requires to become able to move in all three modes of locomotion over a wide range of speeds. Triathlon performance involves the development of a harmonious and comprehensive set of capabilities that contribute to endurance. A great diversity of sessions gives more pleasure to the practice and also contributes to increase its training capacity. Endurance is not working on the same pace.

Half Ironman between endurance and ultra-endurance

The level of endurance depends on the duration of its goal and the total energy expenditure to achieve it. The Half Ironman triathlon which consists of swimming 1900m, pedaling for 90km and running a half-marathon is done in 3:40 for the best and in 7 hours for latecomers. For the first, the Half Ironman is a simple endurance test not exhausting; and for the vast majority of others it’s an exhausting ultra-endurance event like an Ironman. It is a bit as if some people managed to achieve the high-speed course with only a full tank of fuel; for others, it is necessary to choose less greedy speeds and regularly use fuel surcharges to cross the finish line. The situation of exhaustion would correspond to the passage on the reserve. Now that this analogy is made, we can better understand that the same test can be non-exhausting for some and exhausting for others according to their speed (or their energy consumption) and their energy reserves.

In humans, there is a relationship between glycogen depletion and decreased ability to produce high-level exercise. For exercises lasting more than two hours at 75% of VO2max, depletion of glycogen stores may become a limiting factor in performance. Afterwards, it is possible to continue an exercise while the glycogen is exhausted but in this situation the oxygen consumption is reduced (to maintain a level of work between 50 and 55% of VO2 max for 7 to 8 hours) and therefore the running speed (V). At this level of work, lipolysis and hepatic neoglucogenesis take over. The availability of glycogen is not the limiting factor in the pursuit of a very long duration effort and at low speed.

Depending on its level of performance, we prepare a Half Ironman with a large volume of training at low intensity if we are not sure to cross the finish line without being exhausted: it is for the vast majority of triathletes. In this case, the preparation will look a little like that of an Ironman.

For the best (professional and best young age groups), the volume of training will be coupled with a high effort intensity. The ambition to go fast on Half Ironman will be associated with the risk-taking of « stuck » on the final.

The Ironman and the Half Ironman are events where the absolute energy cost is such that the capacity of endurance depends on its level of training but also of its food strategy. A recent review of the literature shows the importance of coupling a physical exercise (8) with energy endurance training to meet energy needs. The development of its endurance can be sought by a multi-disciplinary approach that combines physical exercises and nutritional exercises. This type of preparation should be undertaken with the advice of an expert.

For the vast majority of triathletes, the preparation of a Half Ironman requires a large amount of training at low intensity since this test is exhausting. To optimize its preparation, a multi-disciplinary approach (combining physical exercises and nutritional exercises) can be considered.

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References

1. Di Prampero PE. The energy cost of human locomotion on land and water. Int J Sports Med. Apr 1986; 7 (2): 55-72.
2.Di Prampero PE. Energetics of muscular exercise. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol. 1981; 89: 143-222.
3.Coyle EF. Of the physiological factors determining endurance performance ability. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 1995; 23: 25-63.
4.Barnes KR, Kilding AE. Running economy: measurement, norms, and determining factors. Sports Med – Open. Dec 2015; 1 (1): 8.
5. McLaughlin JE, Howley ET, Bassett DR, Thompson DL, Fitzhugh EC. Test of the classic model for predicting endurance running performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc. May 2010; 42 (5): 991-7.
6.Bassett DR, Howley ET. Limiting factors for maximum oxygen uptake and determinants of endurance performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc. Jan 2000; 32 (1): 70-84.
7.Ache-Dias J, Dellagrana RA, Teixeira AS, Dal Pupo J, Moro ARP. Neuromuscular and physiological parameters: a randomized controlled study. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab Physiol Appl Nutr Metab. Jan 2016; 41 (1): 20-5.
8.Maunder E, AE Kilding, Plews DJ. Substrate Metabolism During Ironman Triathlon: Different Horses on the Same Races. Sports Med. Oct 2018; 48 (10): 2219-26.

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For further

→ Download the free Ebook « 10 mistakes to avoid to reach its peak of form »
→ Discover the interview from HAWAÏ Ironman of our coach Fred Sultana
→ Contact WTS to prepare your next goals!

During the winter, viruses find an environment particularly conducive to their spread! Influenza, gastroenteritis, or rhino-pharyngitis viruses are particularly active.

A good part of the population suffers these infections, and even if the physical activity increases the immune efficiency, the sportsmen have also entitled to their lot of winter pathology.

When the infection is there, the consequences are twofold for athletes since the pathology forces rest and puts the body « flat ». In the end, much of the effort in upstream training can be lost, especially if the stopping is very prolonged.

Prevention

There is no miracle method for suppressing winter virus-induced diseases, however it is possible to limit the risks with a few simple measures.

Basic measures have an important role in terms of prevention: regular washing of hands, avoiding public places confined during epidemic periods, etc.

Nutrition is a good way of prevention. It is especially important to avoid « clogging » the body with toxic and / or useless food: alcohol, sweets … etc. As such, it should be noted that end-of-year festive meals have a negative impact on the digestive tract and predispose to the appearance of various pathologies. To strengthen immunity, nothing replaces a good cure of probiotics to strengthen the intestinal flora. Do not hesitate to take a cure of ginseng or eleutherococcus during the winter. These « adaptogens » will help the body fight viral infections, especially if the training is intensive. Always favor products of good quality, richer in active substance (ginsenosides).

In addition, cooling often acts as the triggering factor, therefore it is particularly important to adopt a suitable attire during and especially after training. We will take special care to keep warm feet, and the head.

In terms of training, do not overload during times of epidemic or weaken the immune system and increase the risk of getting sick.

Healing

Fever is the symptom that translates the infection. When it is too high, you should not hesitate to use paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce the fever.

Anyway, do not hesitate to use the advice of your doctor, if the symptoms are important and especially persistent (fever, headache, cough, sore throat … etc), because the viral pathology can quickly turn into bacterial pathology. 

Only in this case should the use of antibiotics be considered. If this is the case, increase your consumption of yeast beer or yogurt rich in lactic ferments. Indeed, these foods are rich in pre-biotic substances and will help restore the intestinal flora that has been destroyed by the action of antibiotics.

In the case of recurrent pathologies, it may be interesting to carry out a dental, osteopathic or micronutritional check-up to make sure that the source of the problems is not related to an additional problem: dental infection, food allergy, or vertebral displacement (fruit of an old fall by bike for example).

Resumption of training

The resumption of training is essentially conditioned by the evolution of symptoms. One thing is certain, the recovery must be extremely progressive or it will relapse.

In addition, it is vital not to engage in high-intensity training too early (especially if fever is present) or else cause irreversible cardiac damage (myocarditis).

In the case where the symptoms are not associated with any fever (ENT, digestive …), it is possible to continue to talk, taking care not to aggravate things, so we will limit ourselves to short sessions , little intensive.

It is traditional to count a number of training days equal to twice the number of days off, before returning to its state of pre-illness form: it will take two weeks of training to return to the original form following a stop of a week.

Finally, keep in mind that losing a little time in the convalescence phase can save a lot of time in the end.

So patience, patience!

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Recovery program following a 7-day stoppage

J1: 30 min home-trainer without forcing

D2: rest

J3: 45 min home-trainer without forcing

D4: rest

J5: 1h bike outside (well covered) staying in endurance

J6: rest

J7: 1h30 bike outdoors well covered (well covered) staying in endurance

From J8 resumption of the usual training …

Jean-Baptiste WIROTH
Doctor of Sport Sciences, PhD
Founder of the WTS coach network (www.wts.fr)
E-mail: jb.wiroth@wts.fr

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The expert answers you:
« Is it good to ride when you’re feverish? « 

The answer is binary.
If the fever is high (> 38 ° C), do not force it under pain of damaging your heart (myocarditis). Rest and wait for it to resume cycling.

If the fever is moderate (<38 ° C) it may be good to sweat a little on your home-trainer. You can roll 20 to 30min without forcing to evacuate the toxins. Remember to hydrate yourself …

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