TITLE

Influence of anthropometry on race performance in ultra-endurance triathletes in the longest triathlon in North America

AUTHOR(S)

Knechtle, Beat; Kohler, Götz

PUB. DATE

June 2007

SOURCE

International SportMed Journal;2007, Vol. 8 Issue 2, p87

SOURCE TYPE

Academic Journal

DOC. TYPE

Article

ABSTRACT

Background: Little is known about the effects of anthropometry on race performance in ultra-endurance athletes. Research question: The investigation of the influence of anthropometric parameters on race performance in ultra-endurance triathletes in the longest triathlon in North America. Type of study: Descriptive field study. Methods: Body mass, body height, length of lower limbs, skinfold thicknesses, circumferences of extremities (as well as calculation of BMI), percent skeletal muscle mass (%SM) and percent body fat (%BF) were determined in the 8 male starters of the Virginia Triple Iron Triathlon 2006 in the USA. This race is the longest triathlon in North America, where athletes have to perform a 11.4 km swim, 540 km cycle ride and 126.6 km run within 68 hours. The measured and calculated anthropometric parameters were correlated with race performance in order to find factors that influence race performance in ultra-endurance triathletes. Results: In the 5 successful finishers of the race, race time was not significantly influenced by the directly measured anthropometric properties of body height, length of limbs, body mass, average skinfold thickness, and the limb perimeters of thigh, calf and upper arm (p>0.05). Furthermore, no significant influence was observed between race time and the calculated parameters BMI, %BF and %SM (p>0.05). Conclusions: In the Virginia Triple Iron Triathlon 2006, no influence was observed from body mass, body height, length of limbs, skinfold thickness, perimeters of extremities, BMI, %SM and %BF on race performance in the only 5 successful finishers.

ACCESSION #

26316941

 

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