While we make a conscious effort not to pull a tight hamstring or strain a niggly calf, there's W another more important muscle in the body that we should treat with even greater care, but perhaps rarely consider: our heart.
Research shows that exercise is generally good for the heart, but most of us are aware that, while rare, there can also be occasional complications - with different considerations for triathletes of different ages and different fitness levels.
So, whether you're an up-and-coming junior or novice in your late 50s, we look at the steps you should take to make sure you're exercising safely, and give you peace of mind that you can carry on enjoying your swim, bike and running with confidence for years to come.
"The headline is always that the benefits of exercise far outweigh the risks," says professor Dan Augustine, a consultant sports cardiologist from Bath. "The caveat is that if you're doing a high volume of exercise over a number of years, the heart can adapt, particularly in endurance sport." Augustine's opening remark sums up the challenge of covering heart health as a topic. While we shouldn't ignore the risks, we equally shouldn't lose sight of the fact that some level of exercise is almost universally preferable to staying sedentary.
How widespread are heart issues? "The most recent data we have is from the Football Association," Augustine explains. "They followed people for up to 20 years and found that approximately one in every 300 that they screened had a cardiac issue that could potentially cause harm."
POTENTIAL ISSUES
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2023 من 220 Triathlon.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2023 من 220 Triathlon.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
THE MULTISPORT MAVERICK
Bike powerhouse Andrew Starykowicz has done things his own way for the length of his 15-year pro career. Now, on the eve of his retirement, he looks back on the lessons learned along the way
HOW CONTRAST CAN LEAD TO PERFORMANCE GAINS
While volume and consistency are the cornerstones of endurance fitness, contrast and variability can play a key part of your training. Here, Ben explains how
SWIM STRAIGHT MASTERCLASS
WITH THE LAUNCH OF AN INNOVATIVE NEW 'SWIMSTRAIGHT' FUNCTION ON FORM'S SMART SWIM 2 GOGGLES, WE TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO WHY BEING ABLE TO SWIM IN A STRAIGHT LINE IS SO IMPORTANT TO OPEN-WATER SWIMMERS..
GROUP TEST OPEN-WATER GOGGLES
Finding the right pair of goggles can make or break your open-water swim. Luckily, we have a whopping 14 pairs on test this issue! It can be tempting to skimp on your open-water goggles and just use the same ones you've had in your kit bag all winter for pool swimming.
BUYER'S GUIDE BUDGET TRI-SUITS
You don’t have to break the bank to break your PB. Here are seven suits that claim three-discipline comfort and speed. Do they live up to their promises?
MID-RANGE WETSUITS
We included entry-level wetsuits in last month’s mag, but what do you get if'you move up a tier..? We tried 10 suits in the mid-range to find out.
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO TRIATHLON TRANSITIONS
You've started open-water swimming, spent hours on the bike and acclimatised to running on jelly legs. But what about transitions? The devil's in the detail here and those details could save you minutes on race day. So, here’s how to nail them...
THE TRAILBLAZER YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF
It’s 100 years since Alfonsina Strada became the first and only woman to complete the men’s Giro d'Italia. Thanks to new women’s triathlon and cycling apparel brand Alfonsina, we reflect on the exploits of this incredible pioneer...
30 WAYS TO SMASH YOUR FIRST IRON
Nervously edging closer to your first full-distance triathlon? These tips will help send you to the finish line safe and sound...
"WE HAVE A UNIQUE SIBLING BOND THAT MAKES RACING SPECIAL"
Tia Watson is just 17 but she’s a recordbreaker already with a little help from her incredible brother, Rio...