The response of runners to arduous triathlon competition

As very few of the competitors in a triathlon are truly specialist in more than one of the three disciplines, high levels of physical (and mental) stress may result during the course of the event. We investigated some of the physiological responses occurring in runners participating in an "Iron Man" triathlon consisting of canoeing (20 km), cycling (90 km) and running (42 km), in that sequence. Twenty-one male entrants volunteered as subjects for the study. Prior to the competition, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) was determined. Basal venous blood samples were collected on the day prior to the competition and post-exercise venous blood samples were collected within 5 minutes of completion of the race. Serum iron was significantly reduced from a mean basal value of 20.6 mumol X l-1 to a mean value of 8.4 mumol X l-1 after the race. Cortisol levels showed a 3 fold increase after the race. Gross VO2max (l X min-1) and mass standardised VO2max (ml X min-1 X kg-1) were both negatively correlated to cortisol levels after the race (p less than 0.05). Total performance time was not related to gross VO2max (l X min-1) but was well correlated to mass corrected VO2max (ml X min-1 X kg-1). The marked fall in serum iron may have been related to heavy sweating or prelatent iron deficiency. Chronic iron deficiency (without frank anaemia) can impair physical performance, although we were unable to show any significant correlation between serum iron level after the race and time taken to complete the event.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)