Author(s): WELLS, L., BRUCE, L., HOFFMANN, S.M., KREMER, P., DWYER, D.B., Institution: DEAKIN UNIVERSITY, Country: AUSTRALIA, Abstract-ID: 482

INTRODUCTION:
Typical training load data for age-group triathletes has not been established based on long-term, objective data captured by technology. Establishing the typical TL of age-group athletes from this data may provide opportunities to improve the health and performance outcomes of athletes. Training load quantified through metrics like duration, distance, heart rate (HR), and Training Stress Score (TSS) – a load metric based on Banister’s Training Impulse (TRIMP) [2], must be managed effectively to ensure performance optimisation and injury prevention [3]. Existing studies on TL are limited by reliance on subjective recall data [4], small sample sizes [5], or lack of comparison across factors like sex, age, race distance preference, and training phases. These comparisons are important to determine whether coaches may need to adjust the prescribed load across athlete categories.
METHODS:
This retrospective cohort study analysed six months of objective training data exported by 95 age-group triathletes (18 female, 77 male) from the TrainingPeaks® training management system. Load metrics included weekly duration, distance, HR, and TSS. Data from 34,731 training sessions were coded for sex, age group, race distance preference, and training phase (General, Specific, Taper/Race/Post, Off-Season). A Generalised Linear Model (GLM) determined whether sex, age, race distance preference, and training phase affected load metrics.
RESULTS:
Race distance preference and training phase showed significant differences between TL metrics (p = < 0.05), while sex and age did not. Long-course athletes had higher mean weekly TL (574 TSS, 10.25 hrs, 171 km) compared to short-course athletes (452 TSS, 8.45 hrs., 118 km). TL for all phases were significantly different (p < 0.05). The Specific phase showed the highest mean TL (620 TSS, 9.27 hrs, 166 km), while the Off-Season was the lowest (364 TSS, 5.67 hrs, 84 km).
CONCLUSION:
Male and female athletes had similar TLs, as did athletes of different ages. Long-course athletes and those in the Specific training phase had the highest TL. Coaches and athletes can use these typical age-group loads to compare and adjust absolute TL according to the magnitude of change between training phases and race distance preference. Further research is needed to examine how variations in TL impact performance and injury risk, helping to refine TL guidelines. This study provides the first large-scale, objective TL dataset indicating typical load for age-group triathletes, offering actionable insights for training personalisation.

References
1. Knechtle, et al (2014)
2. Banister, et al (1999)
3. Etxebarria, et al (2019)
4. Sinisgalli, et al (2021)
5. Falk Neto, et al (2021)