Effects of varying exercise doses on self-talk response in triathletes

Abstract

Self-talk, defined as the set of verbalizations directed towards oneself, has been widely studied in sport science owing to its close relationship with athletic performance, motivation, and emotional regulation. However, the interaction between self-talk and the dose and distribution of training load remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine how training load influences self-talk in endurance athletes and to propose future research directions regarding its potential as a tool for assessing training adaptations. Twenty triathletes (11 males and 9 females; mean age 22.5 ± 5.1 years) with extensive triathlon experience participated in the study. Their contextual and situational automatic self-talk values were measured during a 6-week training period in which training load was continuously monitored using the ECOS method, a specific approach designed for the quantification of training load in triathlon. Results revealed reductions in the frequency of negative self-talk following both the main training period and the subsequent regeneration micro cycle. Nevertheless, no significant changes were observed in the frequency of positive self-talk. Additionally, positive correlations emerged between training load and the occurrence of positive, instructional, and somatic fatigue-related self-talk. These findings suggest that the appropriate distribution and administration of training load could positively influence athletes’ perceptions of competence, self-efficacy, and emotional control, leading to more adaptive and functional self-talk patterns. Furthermore, maintaining high levels of positive and instructional self-talk may facilitate tolerance to greater training loads, thereby supporting both physical and psychological resilience. Since the ability to tolerate high training loads is a key determinant of performance improvement in triathlon, developing methodologies aimed at fostering these behavioural variables could significantly enhance the effectiveness of training programs and optimize long-term athletic development.