Abstract

The triathlon is an endurance sport; it consists of swimming, cycling and running without a pause and with start in line. Triathlon distances are different, even if the most practised is the short triathlon (1.5 km swimming, 40 km cycling, 10 km running) with an average duration of 2 hours. The study of cardiovascular and metabolic functions required to engage in this competition, showed special physiological and technical characteristics of short triathlon in comparison with long triathlon (Ironman) and with the marathon. In fact echocardiographic data and the measurement of muscular enyzmes (CPK, CPK-MB, LDH) show lower recovery times. The lactate value measured at the end of the competition (6.5 +/- 20 mM) also underline the energetic use of the anaerobic mechanism: this is an important point to consider in programming training and the raceiting. Verf.-Referat