Relationship between physiological parameters and performance during a half-ironman triathlon in the heat.

Triathlon is a popular outdoor endurance sport performed under a variety of environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to assess physiological variables before and after a half-ironman triathlon in the heat and to analyse their relationship with performance. Thirty-four well-trained triathletes completed a half-ironman triathlon in a mean dry temperature of 29 ± 3ºC. Before and within 1 min after the end of the race, body mass, core temperature, maximal jump height and venous blood samples were obtained. Mean race time was 315 ± 40 min, with swimming (11 ± 1%), cycling (49 ± 2%) and running (40 ± 3%) representing different amounts of the total race time. At the end of the competition, body mass changed by -3.8 ± 1.6% and the change in body mass correlated positively with race time (r = 0.64; P < 0.001). Core temperature increased from 37.5 ± 0.6ºC to 38.8 ± 0.7ºC (P < 0.001) and post-race core temperature correlated negatively with race time (r = -0.47; P = 0.007). Race time correlated positively with the decrease in jump height (r = 0.38; P = 0.043), post-race serum creatine kinase (r = 0.55; P = 0.001) and myoglobin concentrations (r = 0.39; P = 0.022). In a half-ironman triathlon in the heat, greater reductions in body mass and higher post-competition core temperatures were present in faster triathletes. In contrast, slower triathletes presented higher levels of muscle damage and decreased muscle performance.

Psycho-social factors determining success in high-performance triathlon: compared perception in the coach-athlete pair.

High-level sport can be analyzed using the complex system model, in which performance is constrained by many factors. Coaches' and athletes' perceptions of important positive and negative factors affecting performance were compared. Participants were 48 high-level international triathletes (n = 34) and their coaches (n = 14). They were personally interviewed via a questionnaire designed by four accredited experts, who selected groups of both positive and negative factors affecting performance. A list of factors was developed, in order of greater to lesser importance in the opinion of athletes and coaches, for subsequent analysis. Two ranked lists (positive and negative factors) indicated that athletes appear to rate personal environment factors (family, teammates, lack of support from relatives) higher, while the coaches tended to give more importance to technical and institutional aspects (institutional support, coach, medical support). There was complete agreement between coaches and triathletes about the top five positive factors. Negative factor agreement was somewhat lower (agreement on 3/5 factors). The most important positive factor for coaches and athletes was "dedication/engagement," while the most important factor adversely affecting performance was "injuries".

[Validation and adaptation of the PACES scale of enjoyment of the practice of physical activity for Spanish adolescent girls]. / Validación y adaptación de la escala PACES de disfrute con la práctica de la actividad física para adolescentes españolas.

The goal of this study is to validate a Spanish version of the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES, Kendzierski & DeCarlo, 1991), in the population of Spanish adolescent girls, and also to obtain a reduced version of the scale. For this purpose, reliability analysis was conducted, and construct validity was assessed in two steps: exploratory factor analysis and structural equation model with confirmatory factor analysis. The scale was administered to a sample of 2777 adolescent girls of Secondary Education, ages between 12-18 years. The results show the reliability of the instrument and the construct validity with a good fit of the model. The adapted scale was reduced to six items, a shorter and efficient scale that allows us to measure the enjoyment of physical activity.

Validación y adaptación de la escala PACES de disfrute con la práctica de la actividad física para adolescentes españolas / Validation and adaptation of the PACES scale of enjoyment of the practice of physical activity for Spanish adolescent girls

El objetivo de este trabajo es la validación al castellano de la Escala de Disfrute con la Actividad Física - PACES (Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale), de Kendzierski y DeCarlo (1991), adaptándola a la población de chicas adolescentes españolas, así como la obtención de una versión reducida de la misma. Para ello se realizó un análisis de fiabilidad y, a continuación, la validez del constructo fue constatada en dos pasos, primero mediante un análisis factorial exploratorio y posteriormente aplicando el modelo de ecuaciones estructurales para la realización de un análisis factorial confirmatorio. La escala se administró a 2.777 chicas adolescentes de Educación Secundaria entre 12 y 18 años. Los resultados muestran la fiabilidad de la prueba y la validez del constructo, con un buen ajuste al modelo. La escala adaptada arrojó una reducción a seis ítems, lo que permite disponer de un instrumento breve y eficiente para la medición del disfrute con la actividad física

The goal of this study is to validate a Spanish version of the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES, Kendzierski & DeCarlo, 1991), in the population of Spanish adolescent girls, and also to obtain a reduced version of the scale. For this purpose, reliability analysis was conducted, and construct validity was assessed in two steps: exploratory factor analysis and structural equation model with confirmatory factor analysis. The scale was administered to a sample of 2777 adolescent girls of Secondary Education, ages between 12-18 years. The results show the reliability of the instrument and the construct validity with a good fit of the model. The adapted scale was reduced to six items, a shorter and efficient scale that allows us to measure the enjoyment of physical activity