Int J Sports Med 2009; 30(5): 343-347
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1104571
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Skin-fold Thickness and Training Volume in Ultra-triathletes

B. Knechtle 1 , 2 , P. Knechtle 1 , T. Rosemann 2
  • 1Gesundheitszentrum, St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
  • 2Institute of General Practice and Health Services Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision September 9, 2008

Publication Date:
19 March 2009 (online)

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between variables of anthropometry and training volume on race performance in 29 male non-professional ultra-triathletes. Anthropometric variables were determined in order to calculate body mass index, sum of skin-folds and percent body fat. Participants kept a comprehensive training diary recording their training volume in hours and kilometres in the 3 months before the race. The relationship of anthropometry and average weekly training volume with race performance was investigated with linear regression analysis. The sum of 8 skin-fold thicknesses was associated with total race time (r2=0.33, p<0.001), whereas the average weekly training volume was not (r2=0.00, p>0.05). The training volume showed no association with the sum of 8 skin-folds (r2=0.00, p>0.05). The sum of 8 skin-folds was neither associated with speed in the swim (r2=0.10, p>0.05) nor in the bike split (r2=0.10, p>0.05) but showed a significant association with speed in the run split (r2=0.38, p<0.0001). We concluded that anthropometry was of more importance than training volume in male Triple Iron triathletes and that these athletes were close to runners regarding the relationship of anthropometry with race performance.

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Correspondence

Dr. B. Knechtle

Gesundheitszentrum

Vadianstr. 26

9001 St. Gallen

Switzerland

Phone: +41/71/226 82 82

Fax: +41/71/226 82 72

Email: beat.knechtle@hispeed.ch

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