Cracking the code for maintaining quality training in Olympic distance triathlon: lessons learnt from a squad of elite Scandinavian athletes
Objective High-quality training is a key determinant of performance in the Olympic distance triathlon and is potentially influenced by a unique array of context-specific biopsychosocial factors. Our objective was to explore and describe these factors among squad members of a university-based, elite...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2017-10-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/3/1/e000274.full |
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| _version_ | 1850283045485019136 |
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| author | Eleanor Boyle Corrie Myburgh Tobias Hansen Anders Holm Beck |
| author_facet | Eleanor Boyle Corrie Myburgh Tobias Hansen Anders Holm Beck |
| author_sort | Eleanor Boyle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective High-quality training is a key determinant of performance in the Olympic distance triathlon and is potentially influenced by a unique array of context-specific biopsychosocial factors. Our objective was to explore and describe these factors among squad members of a university-based, elite Olympic distance triathlete developmental programme.Method A qualitative investigation using a visual communication tool-assisted focus group and longitudinal semistructured individual interviews was conducted. Responses were solicited from the University of Southern Denmark’s elite triathlon team (n=8), and inductive coding from the focus group formed the basis of questions for the two rounds of individual interviews 11 months apart. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and then analysed thematically.Results Seventeen context-relevant factors were identified and 10 themes emerged, these being ‘the cold weather ritual’, ‘digestive system conditioning’, ‘the curse of the night owl’, ‘the strings attached to sponsorship’, ‘my coach—my rock’, ‘mood maintenance’, ‘the asynchronous training rhythm’, ‘psychological slavery’, ‘the legacy of the asphalt tattoo’ and ‘the tension of family and friends’.Conclusions By reflecting on their personal training vortex, elite triathletes were able to provide context-relevant insights into the maintenance of training quality over the course of a competitive season. Further research is required to elucidate whether and how biopsycholosocial factors can be modified to optimise the achievement of training goals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9981814ddc2c4e11b70aad4f931b7b19 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2055-7647 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-9981814ddc2c4e11b70aad4f931b7b192025-08-20T01:47:51ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine2055-76472017-10-013110.1136/bmjsem-2017-000274Cracking the code for maintaining quality training in Olympic distance triathlon: lessons learnt from a squad of elite Scandinavian athletesEleanor Boyle0Corrie Myburgh1Tobias Hansen2Anders Holm Beck31 Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, DenmarkDepartment of Sport Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Research Unit for Learning & Talent in Sport, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, DenmarkDepartment of Sports and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, DenmarkDepartment of Sports and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, DenmarkObjective High-quality training is a key determinant of performance in the Olympic distance triathlon and is potentially influenced by a unique array of context-specific biopsychosocial factors. Our objective was to explore and describe these factors among squad members of a university-based, elite Olympic distance triathlete developmental programme.Method A qualitative investigation using a visual communication tool-assisted focus group and longitudinal semistructured individual interviews was conducted. Responses were solicited from the University of Southern Denmark’s elite triathlon team (n=8), and inductive coding from the focus group formed the basis of questions for the two rounds of individual interviews 11 months apart. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and then analysed thematically.Results Seventeen context-relevant factors were identified and 10 themes emerged, these being ‘the cold weather ritual’, ‘digestive system conditioning’, ‘the curse of the night owl’, ‘the strings attached to sponsorship’, ‘my coach—my rock’, ‘mood maintenance’, ‘the asynchronous training rhythm’, ‘psychological slavery’, ‘the legacy of the asphalt tattoo’ and ‘the tension of family and friends’.Conclusions By reflecting on their personal training vortex, elite triathletes were able to provide context-relevant insights into the maintenance of training quality over the course of a competitive season. Further research is required to elucidate whether and how biopsycholosocial factors can be modified to optimise the achievement of training goals.https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/3/1/e000274.full |
| spellingShingle | Eleanor Boyle Corrie Myburgh Tobias Hansen Anders Holm Beck Cracking the code for maintaining quality training in Olympic distance triathlon: lessons learnt from a squad of elite Scandinavian athletes BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| title | Cracking the code for maintaining quality training in Olympic distance triathlon: lessons learnt from a squad of elite Scandinavian athletes |
| title_full | Cracking the code for maintaining quality training in Olympic distance triathlon: lessons learnt from a squad of elite Scandinavian athletes |
| title_fullStr | Cracking the code for maintaining quality training in Olympic distance triathlon: lessons learnt from a squad of elite Scandinavian athletes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cracking the code for maintaining quality training in Olympic distance triathlon: lessons learnt from a squad of elite Scandinavian athletes |
| title_short | Cracking the code for maintaining quality training in Olympic distance triathlon: lessons learnt from a squad of elite Scandinavian athletes |
| title_sort | cracking the code for maintaining quality training in olympic distance triathlon lessons learnt from a squad of elite scandinavian athletes |
| url | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/3/1/e000274.full |
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