TRIATHLON PHYSIOLOGY FOR DUMMIES AND THE TENDENCY TOWARD THE MEAN

Physiology of targets when training triathlon

Tenth part

Targets should be a neurological workout. Meaning the cadence during the workout should be the one we use in competition or as close as we can, without involving much of the muscular system, e.g.  Spinning when biking; small steps running at a 210-220 of cadence; kicking 6 per stroke swimming without applying force.  This training prepares the body to use fuel for neurons in competition.  Remember, neurons only use glucose as fuel and glucose comes from glycogen stored in the liver, muscles, and in the case of brain neurons in the astrocytes. But glycogen can be wasted in matter of minutes and the body starts using proteins to keep glucose at the level close to 80.  The other way of forming glucose in the body is from lactate, which is produced by the muscles as a mechanism of emergency to help the neurons to keep firing, but such mechanism happens in the liver after training.  So we need to drink calories in the form of glucose and proteins to help with the process while training. 

I let you see again what happens with the hormones which plays a major role on the glucose’s metabolism.

Wilmore, J.H., Costill, D.L., & Kenney, W.L. (2007). Physiology of sport and exercise. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

I remembered when working at the University of Geneva, in a special department for research where we did sleep studies. JM Gaillard was the chief. It was the second time I had contact with the medical system in Switzerland and this time I understood the difference between Europe and America.  I signed contracts where they said that I was not allowed to publish anything without the o.k. of the chief.  Few years after I left, I published “A Synthesis of the Neurophysiology of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.” I used the data of the patients I had there.  Gaillard was a hard working Swiss man who gave me the job I wanted, which I appreciate greatly.  And one of the sleep issues then was why we have slow wave sleep if the REM sleep is the one that produces the brain proteins for “recovery?” The slow wave sleep is the largest part of the sleep and appeared to be unnecessary.  This parallels the concept of not training targets.  Some coaches do not give enough target training because they feel that repetitions are enough.  The targets should be present at least every three weeks to allow a gen induction, in order to have the mechanism to balance glucose ready for competition.