{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,6]],"date-time":"2026-05-06T20:30:17Z","timestamp":1778099417951,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,6,25]],"date-time":"2021-06-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1624579200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"The University of Alberta President\u2019s Council for the Creative Performing Arts Human Performance Fund","award":["RG264"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["RG264"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sports"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Little is known about how recreational triathletes prepare for an Olympic distance event. The aim of this study was to identify the training characteristics of recreational-level triathletes within the competition period and assess how their preparation for a triathlon influences their health and their levels of fatigue. During the 6 weeks prior to, and the 2 weeks after, an Olympic distance triathlon, nine recreational athletes (five males, four females) completed a daily training log. Participants answered the Daily Analysis of Life Demands Questionnaire (DALDA), the Training Distress Scale (TDS) and the Alberta Swim Fatigue and Health Questionnaire weekly. The Recovery-Stress Questionnaire (REST-Q) was completed at the beginning of the study, on the day before the competition, and at the end of week 8. Training loads were calculated using session-based rating of perceived exertion (sRPE). The data from every week of training was compared to week 1 to determine how athletes\u2019 training and health changed throughout the study. No changes in training loads, duration or training intensity distribution were seen in the weeks leading up to the competition. Training duration was significantly reduced in week 6 (p = 0.041, d = 1.58, 95% CI = 6.9, 421.9), while the number of sessions was reduced in week 6 (Z = 2.32, p = 0.02, ES = 0.88) and week 7 (Z = 2.31, p = 0.02, ES = 0.87). Training was characterized by large weekly variations in training loads and a high training intensity. No significant changes were seen in the DALDA, TDS or REST-Q questionnaire scores throughout the 8 weeks. Despite large spikes in training load and a high overall training intensity, these recreational-level triathletes were able to maintain their health in the 6 weeks of training prior to an Olympic distance triathlon.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/sports9070094","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,6,25]],"date-time":"2021-06-25T04:46:57Z","timestamp":1624596417000},"page":"94","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":8,"title":["The Training Characteristics of Recreational-Level Triathletes: Influence on Fatigue and Health"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"9","author":[{"given":"Jo\u00e3o Henrique","family":"Falk Neto","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Athlete Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, & Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, Canada"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3835-0607","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eric C.","family":"Parent","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8168-8633","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Veronica","family":"Vleck","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, 1499-002 Cruz Quebrada-Dafundo, Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9474-913X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Michael D.","family":"Kennedy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Athlete Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, & Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, Canada"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,6,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Rios, L. 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