YOUR QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS

Q Can I have sex before racing?

A Sexual activity before competition has been regarded as a possible cause of subsequent sporting underperformance since ancient Greece and Rome, primarily due to blunting aggression. In scientific terms, this purportedly comes down to a lowering of testosterone levels. It’s a myth that’s been put to bed by a team from Italy who undertook a systematic review of journals and Google Scholar and concluded that there’s no firm evidence that a ‘modicum of fun will ruin your swim, bike, run’.

Q Should I weight train for triathlon? A To weight train or not continues to divide the endurance community but a recent meta-analysis that examines the relationship between strength training and running economy suggests there’s a clear improvement, especially for welltrained athletes. After picking their way through hundreds of studies, the team observed that after weights, runners could maintain the same pace but consume 3-4% less oxygen. Training plans were diverse but all lasted between eight and 12 weeks, and included two to three sessions per week on top of the six to nine run sessions. None lifted to failure with the majority lifting loads around 40-70% of one-rep max.

Q I’m interested in the impact of colour. Anything noteworthy regarding triathlon performance?

A If you’re seeking out victories, wear red, bike red, run red. Experts believe red boosts confidence in the wearer, and is perceived by the opposition as being aggressive and dominant. German sports psychologists at the University of Munster support the claims. They showed video clips of taekwondo to 42 X