Substrate Metabolism During Ironman Triathlon: Different Horses on the Same Courses

Elite Ironman competitors finish in approximately 8:00:00, while lower-performing amateurs take about 14-15:00:00.

• Performance level in Ironman triathlons is associated with significant differences in finishing times.
• The absolute energy cost of completing an Ironman is high and increases with the athlete's competitive level.
• Minimizing the endogenous carbohydrate cost during high-intensity exercise is important for Ironman preparation.
• Strategies to reduce carbohydrate expenditure may include low-carbohydrate diets, exogenous carbohydrate supplementation, and periodized training.
• Different metabolic strategies may be appropriate for varying performance levels, with elite athletes benefiting from specific training and supplementation approaches.

AI simplified