Changes in cardiorespiratory and muscular endurance to prepare for the Guinness record sprint triathlon in extreme altitude and cold

Abstract

A 41-year-old Colombian amateur athlete has set a Guinness World Record for a sprint triathlon in extreme altitude and cold conditions in Los Nevados National Park in the Andean region of Colombia. This research aims to determine the effectiveness of strength training through three cycles: muscular development, intramuscular coordination and specific resistance strength, in addition to cardiorespiratory endurance, emphasizing long duration work in zone 2, and provide nutritional recommendations based on an anthropometric evaluation, following the ISAK protocols. A 41-year-old Colombian amateur athlete, with a late start in the sport (30 years old), received a 15-month preparation focused on cardiorespiratory endurance, aimed at maintaining the aerobic endurance achieved during the first nine months and developing adaptations for each modality, according to the partial duration per sport and the total duration of the triathlon, with workouts performed at altitudes between 1600 and 4800 m. a. s. l. Subsequently, muscular endurance was worked on and the somatotype was adapted, taking into account energy requirements and protection against cold, in particular swimming without a neoprene at 5°C. The body mass index ranged from 23.6 to 24.1 kg/m², with a fat percentage between 10.5 and 13.5%, maintaining an adequate reserve for thermal insulation and buoyancy, and a muscle mass between 39.6 and 41.2%, with a final somatotype of 3.3-5.4-2.2. Muscular endurance increased from 19 to 50 repetitions at 45 kg in the high pulley, from 30 to 50 repetitions at 68.8 kg in the Smith squat, and from 19 to 25 repetitions at 45 kg in the bench press. Two simulations were performed, one at the Negra Lake (3600 m. a. s. l.) and the other at the challenge site (3950 to 5950 m. a. s. l.), between the Otún Lake and the snow-capped mountain of Santa Isabel. There was no direct precedent for such a challenge, which was completed without incident between the athlete and a support team of nearly 50 people, including security, logistics, communications and sports preparation teams. The achievement and recognition of the Guinness Record is a demonstration of the effectiveness of the process used, which focused on muscular endurance and required significant collaboration on the part of the athlete and his team.