Abstract
Purpose: To compare the absolute and relative training load of the Marathon (42k) and the Ironman (IM) training in recreational trained athletes.Methods: Fifteen Marathoners and Fifteen Triathletes participated in the study. Their performance level was the same relative to the sex's absolute winner at the race. No differences were presented neither in age, nor in body weight, height, BMI, running VO2max max, or endurance training experience (p > 0.05). They all trained systematically for their respective event (IM or 42k). Daily training load was recorded in a training log, and the last 16 weeks were compared. Before this, gas exchange and lactate metabolic tests were conducted in order to set individual training zones. The Objective Load Scale (ECOs) training load quantification method was applied. Differences between IM and 42k athletes' outcomes were assessed using Student's test and significance level was set at p < 0.05.Results: As expected, Competition Time was significantly different (IM 11 h 45 min ± 1 h 54 min vs. 42k 3 h 6 min ± 28 min, p < 0.001). Similarly, Training Weekly Avg Time (IM 12.9 h ± 2.6 vs. 42k 5.2 ± 0.9), and Average Weekly ECOs (IM 834 ± 171 vs. 42k 526 ± 118) were significantly higher in IM (p < 0.001). However, the Ratio between Training Load and Training Time was superior for 42k runners when comparing ECOs (IM 65.8 ± 11.8 vs. 42k 99.3 ± 6.8) (p < 0.001). Finally, all ratios between training time or load vs. Competition Time were superior for 42k (p < 0.001) (Training Time/Race Time: IM 1.1 ± 0.3 vs. 42k 1.7 ± 0.5), (ECOs Training Load/Race Time: IM 1.2 ± 0.3 vs. 42k 2.9 ± 1.0).Conclusions: In spite of IM athletes' superior training time and total or weekly training load, when comparing the ratios between training load and training time, and training time or training load vs. competition time, the preparation of a 42k showed to be harder.
Highlights
The interest of recreational athletes in long distance events has been constantly growing in the last 30 years
There are many studies describing the physiological demands of a long distance event competition (Föhrenbach et al, 1987; O’Brien et al, 1993; Laursen and Rhodes, 2001), but few studies focused on the training load leading to a given performance (Esteve-Lanao et al, 2007; Guellich and Seiler, 2010; Seiler, 2010; Neal et al, 2013; Muñoz et al, 2014a,b; Stöggl and Sperlich, 2014)
Bearing in mind that it is difficult to establish the precise amount of training load that an athlete needs (Seiler and Tønnessen, 2009), several studies have been focused on training intensity distribution between professional and recreational athletes including different disciplines (Robinson et al, 1991; Lucía et al, 2000, 2003; Billat et al, 2001; Esteve-Lanao et al, 2005; Seiler and Kjerland, 2006; Guellich et al, 2009)
Summary
The interest of recreational athletes in long distance events has been constantly growing in the last 30 years. The Ironman (IM) and Marathon (42k) distances are the classical longest endurance events in their respective sports These events require large amounts of training (O’Brien et al, 1993; Laursen and Rhodes, 2001), so monitoring the training load becomes a must in order to prevent over reaching or overtraining (Halson, 2014). There are many studies describing the physiological demands of a long distance event competition (Föhrenbach et al, 1987; O’Brien et al, 1993; Laursen and Rhodes, 2001), but few studies focused on the training load leading to a given performance (Esteve-Lanao et al, 2007; Guellich and Seiler, 2010; Seiler, 2010; Neal et al, 2013; Muñoz et al, 2014a,b; Stöggl and Sperlich, 2014). One of the few methods (if any) that allow the comparisons of the training load between different modes of exercise (i.e., running vs. swimming or cycling) is the Objective Load Scale (ECO in Spanish) method (Cejuela and Esteve-Lanao, 2011)
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