INTRODUCTION: Ironman competitions and other extreme endurance events has spread worldwide attracting thousands of endurance-trained athletes, athletes who differ in anthropometric and training characteristics. The relationship between peak oxygen uptake and finishing- and segment time during a full distance IRONMAN competition (Swim 3.9km, Bike 180km and Run 42.2km) has not been examined thoroughly in non-elite athletes.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak), finishing time and segment time in non-elite athletes.

METHODS: 39 non-elite athletes (10 female; age 41.1 ± 9.7, range 24-70 years) performed a 20 m shuttle run test to assess VO₂peak. Association between VO₂ and finishing- and segment time was estimated using bivariate correlation tests. Gender specific analysis was also performed.

RESULTS: VO₂peak peak was on average 49.9 ± 6.4 O2 ml/kg/minute, range 36.5-63.9 (pooled genders). Finishing time was on average 11h and 52 min. The average times for the different segments were; Swim 1h 21m, Bike 5h 46min and Run 4h 33min. The relationship between VO₂peak and finishing time was significant to p<0.001 and                         0.51. The relationship between segment times were Swim  0.19, Bike  0.37 and Run  0.46 all at p<0.001. Gender specific analyses revealed that the association between VO₂peak and finishing time was   0.80 for females and  0.49 for males. 

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that VO₂peak is a good predictor of finishing time (approx. 50%) as well as for segment time with 19%, 37% and 46% for Swim, Bike and Run respectively (pooled genders). For females VO₂peak explains as much as 80% of the variation in finishing time.