Training load and intensity in triathlon: objective differences between sex, age, race distance preference and training phase across a cohort of 95 age-group triathletes over six months

Aim This retrospective cohort study aimed to describe a large dataset of objective training load (TL) data from training sessions of age-group triathletes and to compare sex, age group, race distance preferences, and training phases. Methods An online survey collected TL data from 95 age-group triathletes (18 female, 77 male) in 25 countries. The data included the distance, duration, average heart rate, and training stress score (TSS) for 34,731 training sessions. A Linear Mixed Model analysis was completed, and neither age nor sex was associated with TL ( p > 0.05), and mean heart rate (% of HRmax) was not associated with any factors. Results The TL of long-course triathletes (615 min./wk, 171 Km/wk, 574 TSS/wk) was higher than that of short-course athletes (507 min./wk, 118 Km/wk, 452 TSS/wk). There were differences ( p < 0.05) in TL between four training phases, with the ’specific’ phase having the highest TL (556 min./wk, 166 Km/wk, 620 TSS/wk) and off-season the lowest (340 min./wk, 84 Km/wk, 364 TSS/wk). Differences ( p < 0.05) in TL based on race distance and training phase align with evidence-based practice. Conclusions Comparisons of TL with the cohort values reported here may be helpful to coaches and athletes, given the previous absence of objective age-group athlete datasets.