%0 Journal Article
%T A comparison of participation and performance in age group finishers competing in and qualifying for Ironman Hawaii
%A Stiefel M
%A R邦st CA
%A Rosemann T
%A Knechtle B
%J International Journal of General Medicine
%D 2013
%I Dove Medical Press
%R http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S40202
%X comparison of participation and performance in age group finishers competing in and qualifying for Ironman Hawaii Original Research (569) Total Article Views Authors: Stiefel M, R邦st CA, Rosemann T, Knechtle B Published Date February 2013 Volume 2013:6 Pages 67 - 77 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S40202 Received: 11 November 2012 Accepted: 27 December 2012 Published: 22 February 2013 Michael Stiefel,1 Christoph Alexander R邦st,1 Thomas Rosemann,1 Beat Knechtle2 1Institute of General Practice and for Health Services Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, 2Gesundheitszentrum St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland Background: Athletes intending to compete in Ironman Hawaii need to qualify in an age-group based qualification system. We compared participation and top ten performances of athletes in various age groups between Ironman Hawaii and its qualifier races. Methods: Finishes in Ironman Hawaii and in its qualifier races in 2010 were analyzed in terms of performance, age, and sex. Athletes were categorized into age groups from 18每24 to 75每79 years and split and race times were determined for the top ten athletes in each age group. Results: A higher proportion of athletes aged 25每49 years finished in the qualifier races than in Ironman Hawaii. In athletes aged 18每24 and 50每79 years, the percentage of finishes was higher in Ironman Hawaii than in the qualifier races. For women, the fastest race times were slower in Ironman Hawaii than in the qualifier races for those aged 18每24 (P < 0.001), 25每29 (P < 0.05), and 60每64 (P < 0.05) years. Swim split times were slower in Ironman Hawaii than in the qualifier races for all age groups (P < 0.05). Cycling times were slower in Ironman Hawaii for 18每24, 25每29, 40每44, 50每54, and 60每64 years (P < 0.05) in age groups. For men, finishers aged 18每24 (P < 0.001), 40每44 (P < 0.001), 50每54 (P < 0.01), 55每59 (P < 0.001), 60每64 (P < 0.01), and 65每69 (P < 0.001) years were slower in Ironman Hawaii than in the qualifier races. Swim split times were slower in Ironman Hawaii than in the qualifier races for all age groups (P < 0.05). Cycling times were slower in Ironman Hawaii for those aged 18每24 and those aged 40 years and older (P < 0.05). Conclusion: There are differences in terms of participation and performance for athletes in different age groups between Ironman Hawaii and its qualifier races. Triathletes aged 25每49 years and men generally were underrepresented in Ironman Hawaii compared with in its Ironman qualifier races. These athletes may have had less chance to qualify for Ironman Hawaii than female athletes or younger (<25 years) and older (>50 years) athletes.
%K triathlon
%K ultra-endurance
%K swimming
%K cycling
%K running
%U https://www.dovepress.com/a-comparison-of-participation-and-performance-in-age-group-finishers-c-peer-reviewed-article-IJGM